Here’s what Milwaukee voters should know about the $252 million public school referendum

By Meredith Melland and Edgar Mendez

On March 29, 2024

As the April 2 election draws near, debate continues over whether voters should support Milwaukee Public Schools’ $252 million referendum, which would raise property taxes.

School district officials said the funding increase would allow them to sustain and improve educational programming, attract and retain teachers and avoid budget cuts due to cost increases.

“We have to continue to ensure that our students have art teachers, music teachers, smaller class sizes,” said Keith Posley, superintendent of  Milwaukee Public Schools, or MPS, during a recent online forum.

Some voters have expressed concerns about how the referendum would impact schools, students and taxpayers.

“Why would I, as a homeowner, give you another dime until there is more accountability and transparency within MPS?” said Beverly Williams, leader of the group Community Together Voices of Milwaukee Children. “It’s not going to help, especially when they (MPS) had a surplus of funds because of the pandemic and didn’t use it to take care of the needs of the children.”

Williams, who worked as a teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools for more than 20 years and frequently criticizes her former employer, referred to a Wisconsin Policy Forum report, which found the district had surpluses in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

MPS officials attributed those surpluses mainly to pandemic aid and also the district’s struggle to fill vacancies, according to that report.

The district also invested some of the surplus into long-term payment obligations, according to Sara Shaw, a senior researcher at Wisconsin Policy Forum who co-authored the report.

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and the Greater Milwaukee Committee oppose the referendum, citing the increase to property taxes and a lack of transparency from MPS around its plan.

What impact will it have on schools?

MPS is estimating a $200 million budget deficit in 2024-2025. Posley said if the referendum does not pass, the district will face a 13% cut to schools and a 26% cut to central office services.

Missy Zombor, an MPS school board director, emphasized the importance of strong neighborhood schools as a rationale for supporting the referendum.

“People want their neighborhood schools to continue to improve,” she said.

Students with Youth Empowered in the Struggle, or YES, which organizes youth-led campaigns around local causes, are canvassing in favor of the referendum.

YES members from MPS schools said if voters reject the referendum, classes and clubs that engage students and offer career opportunities might be eliminated.

“Attendance is already struggling, and without the extra classes that make them actually want to be there, you’re never going to see those kids,” said Abby Mueller, a sophomore at Hamilton High School.

Staff cuts feared

La Escuela Fratney, a bilingual elementary school at 3255 N. Fratney St., would lose the equivalent of 5.6 teacher positions and two paraprofessional positions if the referendum is not approved, according to principal Sara Cruz.

Cruz said the school may still need to cut one classroom teacher even if the referendum passes.

“It would be sustainable to move forward with what we have with the referendum and we would be able to continue to meet the students’ needs,” Cruz said. “I see it as extremely challenging if the referendum wouldn’t pass.”

What is the MPS referendum?

MPS is asking to exceed its revenue limit with a $252 million increase that would be phased in over four years. The referendum would raise property taxes by $2.16 per $1,000, or $216 for a $100,000 home, in the first year of the referendum. Taxes would stay at this rate for the next three years and remain elevated in following years, although the exact rate may change.

The district’s referendum is one of 91 from districts around the state on the April 2 ballot, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum.

“MPS, in many respects, is facing a similar situation that other districts are, and the MPS referendum stands out primarily because of its size,” said Shaw, of the Wisconsin Policy Forum.

Angela Lang, executive director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, or BLOC, said the funds are needed to ensure equity in education.

“Despite the Legislature continuing to defund public schools, we want to make sure that everybody has the same opportunities for quality education,” Lang said.

Calls for more transparency

Zombor of the school board said the district has made progress, crediting an improved state report card, increased participation in career and technical programs and investing $87 million into music, art, PE and other areas after the 2020 referendum.

“If the (current) referendum doesn’t pass, all of those gains are going to be at risk,” she said.

However, Colleston Morgan Jr., executive director of City Forward Collective, an education equity nonprofit that opposes the referendum, said the district has not outlined how the increase would improve the district’s academic performances or its financial stability.

“We don’t have any of the details to actually understand what happens if this referendum isn’t approved,” he said. “What would the dollars be spent on if it were approved? At a minimum, those should be in place.”

How to vote

You can cast your vote on the referendum in the local general election on Tuesday, April 2.

Early voting is open until Saturday, March 30, in Milwaukee at some locations.

Find your polling place and what’s on your ballot here or visit My Vote Wisconsin.

This piece was republished from the Wisconsin Watch.