Kenosha Unified to ask voters Feb. 18 to approve five‑year $23 million operational referendum

Kenosha Unified School District officials told a community forum that voters will be asked on Feb. 18 to authorize the district to exceed the state revenue limit by $23,000,000 a year for five years, beginning with the 2025–26 school year and ending with the 2029–30 school year, to cover operational expenses and debt service for safety improvements.

The district presenter said the request combines roughly $19,000,000 a year to plug a projected annual operating deficit beginning in 2025–26 with additional debt service tied to security upgrades. “Our public schools are the cornerstone of our community,” the district presenter said, adding that the district is seeking community support to avoid further cuts to staff, programs and class offerings.

Why it matters: Kenosha Unified officials said the district is facing a structural funding gap after years in which state per‑pupil funding did not keep pace with inflation and temporary federal pandemic (ESSER) funds expired. The presenter and the district’s financial officer said rightsizing (school closures and staff reductions) produced roughly $10,000,000 in annual savings but was not sufficient to eliminate a projected $19,000,000 deficit for 2025–26 without local voter approval.

Details provided at the forum: The district…