2024 Operational Referendum 

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Frederic School District is seeking approval for $500,000 for the 2024-25 school year and then $875,000 for each of the next four school years for operating costs.

Our current Fund Balance is projected to decrease by $425,813. This year the district will need to short-term borrow during multiple months. Passing the referendum allows the district to avoid short-term borrowing.

Our district eliminated 3 teaching positions and the Family & Consumer Ed (Home Economics) program. Passing the referendum allows the district to provide appropriate staffing and programs for our students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is an operational referendum needed in Frederic? 

• Current State funding formula has not kept pace with the rate of inflation.
• Each district is assigned a per pupil allotment. Frederic receives
• $11,325 per student. This is the lowest in the State.
• Our 2019 non-recurring operating cost referendum expired in 2024.
• This reduced our revenue limit.
• This year, Frederic will periodically need to short-term borrow. This increases the cost of each expense. Passing the referendum projects the district to stop the practice of short-term borrowing in 2025-26.

What will happen if the district does not pass the operational referendum? 

• The district will continue to cut programs. Both academic and extracurricular opportunities will be lost.
• Technology purchases will be reduced. This will directly impact the education of our students.
• Maintenance projects will be delayed. Our facilities will not be as well maintained and groomed in the future.
• Staff reductions will continue to occur. This will increase class sizes at some grade levels and reduce course offerings.

What is an Operational Referendum? 

• An operational referendum asks voters for authorization to exceed the state imposed revenue limit for day-to-day operational expenses. It’s called operational because if approved, the district will receive additional funding from the tax levy to operate our schools.
• The state revenue limit is a cap on the total overall revenue from a combined amount of property tax revenue and state aid that a school district can receive in a year. An operational referendum seeks voter approval for a levy override to provide funds for the day-to-day school operational budget.

What is a Revenue Limit? 

• The revenue limit acts as a ceiling on the total overall revenue, from property tax revenue and state aid, that a school district can receive in a year. This limit is the largest source of funding for Frederic School District.
• Each Wisconsin school district is assigned its own unique revenue limit by the state. The 2023-24 school year revenue limit for Frederic is $11,000/pupil, which is the lowest possible per pupil revenue limit. It is well below the state average of $11,606/pupil.

How will this referendum impact my taxes? 

For the 2024-25 year there will be no tax impact. This is due to the fact the 2019 referendum for $500,000 has expired.

In 2025-26 through 2028-29, provided all other factors remain constant, the tax rate will increase. The current projected mill rate of $6.47 would increase to $6.62. This 15-cent increase would impact homeowners:

• $100,000 home = $15 annual increase
• $200,000 home = $30 annual increase
• $300,000 home = $45 annual increase

How common have Operational Referendums become to fund school districts? 

• Referendums have been a necessary financial tool for a majority of school districts across the state. There are 421 school districts in the state. We are not alone when it comes to needing additional funds to operate our district. Over 80% of districts statewide have been forced to seek operational referendum support from their communities. In fact, nearly 25% of all districts have at least 10% of their base revenue limit supplemented by non-recurring operational referendums.  
• Since 2019, there have been 159 non-recurring referendums passed throughout the state. This represents a success rate of 76%.