On Wednesday night, January 10, 2024, the Platteville School District Board of Education unanimously approved (with a 9-0 vote) presenting school district residents with an operating referendum question that will allow the district to exceed its state-imposed revenue limit to fund its top priorities. These include recruiting and retaining top notch teaching staff, fortify and expand enrichment programs, and maintain its current staffing levels.
School district residents will vote on the proposed question on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, during the Spring General Election. The referendum question will appear as follows on the April 2 ballot:
QUESTION: Shall the School District of Platteville, Grant, Lafayette and Iowa Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,500,000 for the 2024-2025 school year, by $1,800,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, by $2,100,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, by $2,400,000 for the 2027-2028 school year and by $2,700,000 for the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes to maintain educational programs and operations of the District?
The Platteville School District, in our continued efforts “To ensure high levels of learning for all in a safe, inclusive learning community; every student, every day,” has deemed an operating referendum necessary due to the state of Wisconsin’s inequitable school funding system, a lack of state aid to public schools in recent years, and rapidly increasing costs.
“Since 2009, Wisconsin’s funding formula has not responded to inflationary increases resulting in more than a $3,000 per student gap in our ability to fund public education,” says Platteville School District Superintendent, Jim Boebel. “The Platteville community takes great pride in our ability to educate our students and I see this operating referendum as one opportunity to continue that excellence.”
If approved by voters, the estimated maximum tax increase for the cost of the project for each $100,000 of fair market property value would be $54.00 per year ($4.50 per month) for 5 years.
The District will host open house events so residents can ask questions about the proposed question.
● February 7, 2024, at the Platteville High School in the Auditorium at 6:00 p.m.
● March 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in a virtual session on the Platteville School District YouTube Channel
● March 20, 2024, at the Neal Wilkins Early Learning Center at 6:00 p.m.
Additional information and details on the proposed question is available on the Platteville School District website. Voters will receive more information in the form of a mailing to their residence in January 2024. Questions on the proposed referendum can be emailed directly to information@platteville.k12.wi.us.