Racine board approves placing five-year operating referendum on April 1 ballot

The Racine Unified School District Board of Education voted 7-0 to approve a resolution authorizing the district to exceed its revenue limit for five years for nonrecurring purposes and to place a referendum on the April 1 ballot that would raise local property taxes to shore up district operating funds.

The resolution, approved after public comment, is intended to preserve current programming and staffing amid rising operating costs and after significant budget reductions. Administration said the proposal is modeled to hold the tax increase roughly flat for five years at about $35 per $100,000 of assessed value (about $87.50 on a $250,000 home) while covering projected shortfalls.

The referendum follows a string of public comments urging the board to give voters a chance. Resident Mike Frontier, who worked on a prior facilities referendum, said the issue “won by 4 votes” previously and urged the board to move forward. State Representative Greta Neubauer told the board she had heard repeatedly that public schools are a top concern in Racine and said, “I hope that you will support the passage of the referendum,” warning that failure would lead to “devastating cuts.” Resident Bill Schoch also urged a yes vote, saying the schools are critical to the community’s future.

Administration and board members framed the referendum as a maintenance measure to sustain current services rather than a vehicle for new programs. Superintendent Jeff Gajewski told the board staff used a five-year budget model to forecast deficits and set a levy that would help maintain current staffing and programs after prior reductions. Board member Miss Doxey emphasized that the referendum “is to keep our teachers in the classroom, to keep the classroom sizes in check” and said passage would not be a blank check for additional spending.

District financial staff told the board the district has already made substantial reductions. Officials said the district cut roughly $24,000,000 in staff and programs in the most recent budget cycle, expects to use about $9,000,000 of general fund balance in the current year as previously approved by the board, and has a longer-term funding gap the district estimated would be about $35,000,000 if inflationary trends continued since 2009.

Board members voted separately on two linked motions: one authorizing the budget to exceed the revenue limit for five years and a second providing for a referendum election on that question. Both motions passed on 7-0 recorded votes. Several board members said they would campaign for the referendum; others cautioned that the district must keep demonstrating financial responsibility to win voter support.

The board’s approval sends the question to the clerk and sets election mechanics; the board will not adopt tax levy amounts beyond the resolution language at this meeting. The district plans public outreach in advance of the April 1 election and noted that final levy amounts and exact tax impacts will be shared as the district finalizes its five-year projections and the formal levy language.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to modify the agenda so public comment occurred before the two action items — approved (motion seconded; recorded as 7 yeses). - Resolution authorizing the school district to exceed its revenue limit for five years for nonrecurring purposes — approved 7-0. - Resolution providing for a referendum election on that question — approved 7-0.

What happens next: The board’s two votes place the question on the April 1 ballot and allow the district to plan outreach. If voters approve, the district will collect the additional levy over the five-year period described in the resolution; if voters reject the referendum, officials said they expect further operating reductions.