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 described the referendum as a nonrecurring, five‑year question for $23,000,000 per year. District officials explained the internal breakdown during audience Q&A: about $19,000,000 a year would address operational shortfalls tied to staff costs, curriculum, technology and maintenance; approximately $3,000,000 a year would cover debt service for security work, including a plan to install controlled entrances at seven schools. Officials said the controlled‑entrance construction is projected to cost roughly $12.5 million and that the district would borrow the construction funds and repay the loan over the five‑year referendum period.

Officials answered detailed budget questions from residents. The financial officer summarized items that must return to the general fund after one‑time COVID relief (ESSER) funds expired: a $1,000,000 technology refresh, $1,000,000 in major maintenance, about $2,000,000 in summer‑school and related costs, and ongoing health‑insurance increases (noted at about 11 percent). The district also cited an estimated combined salary/step and inflationary increase of roughly 3.5 percent (about $5.5 million) and an estimated $4.5 million to address teacher professional time and related staffing needs.

Security and implementation: Following a safety incident in November, officials included security investments in the referendum. The district said seven schools lack controlled main entrances and that controlled entrances played a role in limiting access during the November incident. Bill Hathcock, chief of schools, said a district committee that includes staff and local police representatives is meeting and will report at a special board meeting on Jan. 16 with recommendations and cost options. Hathcock noted the district is examining policies, training and potential weapons‑detection systems as part of its review.

Potential impacts if the referendum fails: Officials said the district would likely need additional cuts that could include pay freezes, larger class sizes and reduced program offerings such as low‑enrollment elective courses, AP sections, athletics and extracurriculars. The district emphasized that decisions would be recommendations to the school board for its consideration.

Community context and comparisons: Speakers said Kenosha’s district revenue per pupil (cited at roughly $11,300 in the presentation) lags behind larger districts such as Milwaukee and Madison, which recently passed operational referenda. Officials said over one third of Wisconsin districts went to operational referenda last year. The district also noted its last partial operating referendum was tied to Indian Trail High School and Academy expansion (around 02/2010) and that details are publicly available via the Department of Public Instruction.

Other fiscal notes and past actions: Rightsizing (closures and staff reductions) reduced recurring costs but did not close the structural gap, the district said. The presentation noted the district has sold one closed property (Dimensions of Learning) for roughly $200,000 and is preparing a January board agenda item about future plans for other closed buildings. Officials said they manage cash flow and invest surplus operating capital when possible, generating several million dollars of earnings annually when reserves permit.

Where to find more information and next steps: District officials said an FAQ and an itemized breakdown of the proposed uses of referendum dollars will be posted at kusd.edu/referendum and invited residents to submit additional questions via the website or on cards at the meeting. The district described the ballot question as nonrecurring and five years in length; officials said the school board can choose how to exercise any future revenue‑limit authority but that the question would remain in effect for the five‑year term if approved.