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Racine Unified seeks $190 million, five-year operational referendum on April 1 ballot
Summary
A Racine Unified School District representative described a proposed five-year, $190 million nonrecurring operational referendum that would fund day-to-day school operations, saying failure to pass it would require further cuts after $34 million trimmed last year.
A Racine Unified School District representative urged residents to support a five-year, $190,000,000 nonrecurring operational referendum that will appear on the April 1 ballot, saying the measure would fund day-to-day expenses such as educational programs and staff.
The speaker distinguished the proposed measure from a prior 2020 referendum, saying the 2020 vote was a capital referendum limited to construction work — "building new schools, additions, and renovations" — while the current question would pay for ongoing operational costs. "The referendum we're asking you to consider now is an operational referendum and will pay for day to day expenses, including educational programs and staff," the representative said.
The district representative said state funding has fallen short for more than a decade, leaving many districts in Wisconsin to seek additional local revenue. The speaker noted that in 2024 "more than 200 districts asked their communities to support a referendum, and 45 of those passed." The district has already cut $34,000,000 from its budget in the last year, the representative said, and warned that without a successful April vote "the next round of cuts would drastically impact the quality of the education for our students, weakening our school system and negatively impacting our community."
If approved, the speaker said the referendum would protect programs named in the remarks, including the Academies of Racine and reading initiatives, help retain teachers and staff, preserve small class sizes, and invest in school safety and security. The representative provided an estimated tax impact to illustrate household effects: "When you break it down, it's about $35 for every $100,000 of property value. So if you have a $200,000 home, your taxes would go up about $70 a year."
The speaker identified personal ties to the community, saying they have lived in the area for 46 years, worked in the district for nearly two decades, and that a son attends school in the district. The remarks concluded with an appeal to voters: "Vote April 1 because strong schools build strong communities."
