Madison voters will face a significant decision on Nov. 5, with two school referendums totaling over $600 million on the ballot.
The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is seeking voter approval for $100 million in operational funding spread over four years and an additional $507 million to build new schools over 23 years. The district justifies the request, citing the age of 26 school buildings, many over 60 years old, and recent budget strains following the end of federal COVID-19 relief funds, according to Wisconsin Right Now.
Despite the hefty ask, MMSD is grappling with declining student enrollment. In 2013-14, the district had 27,028 students, but this figure dropped to 25,139 in 2022-23. Although the 2023-24 school year saw a slight increase of 56 students, projections suggest enrollment could fall below 23,000 by 2027-28, reflecting broader demographic trends such as declining birth rates in Madison.
For homeowners, passing the referendums would mean higher property taxes. A resident with a home valued at $350,000 would see an increase of $241.50 in the first year, rising to over $1,000 by the fourth year.
Will Flanders of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty highlighted that the $507 million request is the second-largest school referendum in Wisconsin’s history, underscoring the stakes for voters in Madison this November.
