MPS referendum: Early voting opens with school funding on ballot

MPS referendum, early voting opens

Milwaukee residents will soon vote on the future of Milwaukee Public Schools. A referendum seeks $252 million to bolster the MPS budget.

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee residents will soon vote on the future of Milwaukee Public Schools.

A referendum seeking $252 million to bolster the school district's budget is on the April 2 ballot, and early voting opened Tuesday.

If approved, the referendum would essentially allow the school district to exceed state revenue limits by a total of $252 million over four years. The MPS Board of Directors approved the plan in January.

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Chris Thiel, MPS' legislative policy manager, said the district is looking at a $200 million deficit caused by a lack of state funding over the past 16 years.

"If it doesn’t pass, we are facing significant cuts to schools – about a 13% cut to all our school budgets," Thiel said.

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)

"State leaders have not stepped up – so local residents of Milwaukee are saying yes," said State Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee).

For the owner of a $100,000 home, approval of the referendum would mean a property tax increase of $216 next year. Not everyone in the city is in favor of the potential increase in costs.

"Inflation is already up, people are having problems with buying food," said Rosie King, whose grandchild is an MPS student. "Taxes, homeowner taxes are up, and everything is up – this is not a good time."

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MPS said the alterative is worse; inflation has led to an estimated $33,000 gap in per-student spending over the past 15 years.

"Cuts in other areas – that impact at the school level will have a significant impact that we can’t ignore for kids," said Thiel.

Those interested in reading the resolution can do so here.

MPS district summary

The district presented a breakdown of its budget assumptions at the January 23, 2024 Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget meeting.

Here is a summary:

Decreased revenue limit: $4 million. State aid to MPS, and other school districts across Wisconsin, has been going down for years in spite of rising costs. This is a major reason why so many school districts in the state of Wisconsin are going to referendum.
Increased construction levy: $5 million. The average age of MPS building is 80 years, and an increase in construction levy is part of the district’s plan to address aging infrastructure.
Increased costs of salaries and other wages: $96 million. MPS has made significant progress in hiring and retaining new staff even in the wake of a national teacher shortage. Like other district, MPS is working to keep salaries competitive for the region.
Benefits: $38.8 million. The district will see a 3% increase in medical costs, an 8% increase in prescription costs, and pension costs are rising.
Supplies and Materials: $33 million. This cost will allow the district to update textbooks and maintain a cycle to replenish student Chromebooks.
Purchased Services: $13 million. Purchased services, which include utility costs and the costs of programs, like the Milwaukee Virtual Program, are rising.
Debt Service: $7.6 million. MPS will must make a one-time construction bond payment. Deferring this payment would cost taxpayers more money in the long-run.

These totals are intended to present the most significant assumed changes in the budget, not all changes.