Residents, students and staff urge support for April 7 operational referendum as board lays out potential cuts

More than a dozen residents, staff and students spoke at the East Troy Community School District's board meeting on March 23 as the district continues to encourage voters to approve a three-year operational referendum on April 7.

Educators and parents framed the referendum as a protection for programs and staff. "I wholeheartedly believe that this environment is providing just that," said Kelly Fish, an early childhood special-education teacher at Little Prairie, describing a play group that serves 27 children and pairs special-education and typically developing students. "It is vital," she said of the district's early-childhood program.

Students also urged support. "For less than the cost of one fast-food meal a month, you can invest in teachers who are changing lives every single day," said Marilyn France, a freshman at East Troy High School, repeating the referendum's estimated tax impact as presented by district materials.

Not all public commenters supported the ballot question. David Amx, a resident who spoke during public comment, asked the board to delay the referendum until after the spring board election and requested a committee or an outside firm study merger opportunities and a space analysis to reduce facility costs. He also said his own review of district figures showed a projected shortfall of about $460,000 for the coming year and questioned the framing of recent mailings.

Gene Roseki, another resident, urged clearer information about tax impacts in district mailers and said public packets with financial statements would help voters evaluate the proposal.

Board members and administrators used the meeting to explain the rationale for the April 7 ballot question. The board read a public letter, "Momentum is not accidental," that described academic gains, apprenticeship and dual-enrollment expansions, recent capital work and a reduction in staff turnover after the 2023 referendum. The letter said the proposed measure is a non-recurring, three-year request for $4 million per year and estimated the additional tax impact at $42 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

"Without continued funding, we may face the loss of approximately 25 staff positions," the letter stated, warning that reductions would affect class sizes, elective programs and student supports.

Finance consultant Marquez Guzman of Baird Public Finance provided a technical overview of how Wisconsin's revenue-limit formula and state equalization aid work and why many districts seek local referenda. Guzman told the board that the district's revenue-limit authority is roughly $22 million and that the levy after state aid is the largest portion of district operating revenue.

Board members acknowledged public concern about transparency and urged voters to review district materials. "We are not a wasteful district," said board member Steve Lamrooks, describing the district's efforts to steward funds and limit levy growth. Other board members noted that past referendum projections have often been conservative and that actual tax impacts have sometimes been lower than initial estimates.

The district will continue outreach ahead of the April 7 vote. The board scheduled no new actions on the referendum at the meeting; the request will appear on the ballot. Voters who want background information were directed to the district website for financial materials and frequently asked questions.

Next step: the operational referendum will appear on the April 7 ballot; the district asked residents to review published materials before voting.