School board approves referendum question to exceed revenue limits with 4% first-year CPI

The Green Bay Area Public School District board voted to authorize the district to exceed state revenue limits and to place a four-year replacement operational referendum on the ballot, after hearing administrators outline revised cost projections.

Superintendent Hernandez summarized the updated ballot question, saying the district adjusted the first-year CPI assumption to 4% with 3% in later years to reduce the risk of another round of cuts. "By increasing the first year to 4%, the goal is to reduce the likelihood that the district would need to go through another round of difficult cuts after asking voters to approve additional revenue to address rising inflation," Hernandez said. The change increases the four-year request from $154,000,000 to $158,000,000, and staff estimated year-by-year funding requests of $29,000,000 (27–28), $36,000,000 (28–29), $44,000,000 (29–30) and $49,000,000 (30–31).

Board members voiced support tied to economic uncertainty and the need to sustain services. "If we need to keep our district financially intact and not have to lay off teachers... this is what we have to do," said Board member Laura, who said she trusted the district's financial staff and planned to vote yes. The motions to authorize exceeding the revenue limit and to provide for a referendum election were carried by unanimous online vote, announced by the clerk during the meeting.

The board framed the referendum as a replacement operational referendum (not an innovation fund) and emphasized the district intends to remain mill-rate neutral. The board also said it will continue community outreach and opportunities for residents to ask questions as the district prepares for the ballot.