2025 OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM
In April 2025, the School District of Arcadia is asking residents to vote the non-recurring operational referendum question.
Informational Meetings
Dodge Fire Station
Middle School Commons
City Hall, Arcadia
Arcadia Public Library
Bethal Lutheran Church
Arcadia Town Hall
Arcadia Elementary Conferences
- What is an operational referendum?
- Why do Wisconsin school districts seek referendums?
- When can Wisconsin school districts place referendum questions on ballot? What is the process?
- Why is an operational referendum necessary?
- Has the Arcadia School District ever passed an operational referendum?
- If approved, will the referendum funds decrease the amount of funding the District receives from the state?
- Would more student enrollment provide enough revenue for the District to address the funding gap and avoid an operational referendum?
- How has the community been involved in this process?
- What are the districts financial needs?
- How has the district managed staff payroll increases?
- What is the Fund Balance?
- Why is the Fund Balance low?
- I’ve heard there has been more administrative staff hired over the past few years and this has contributed to our budget issues?
- When we say that if we don’t have a referendum, then the property taxes paid in Arcadia go to other districts, what do we mean?
- How would an operational referendum impact my taxes?
- If the operational referendum is passed and the additional levied funds are not needed, then what happens to the funds?
- What is mill rate and how does it impact my taxes?
- How does the referendum impact the mill rate?
- How would the referendum affect property taxes?
- Is there a TID program in the City of Arcadia that is scheduled to expire, and if so, then what does that mean to the Arcadia School District?
- Can the District use federal COVID-19 relief funds (ESSER funds) to address its financial needs?
- If the Esser Funds are no longer available, then what cuts have been made to accommodate these missing funds?
- How are school finances managed?
- Who funds our school, why does it fall on the community to fund the majority of our school district?
- Why does per pupil spending seem to differ widely across school districts?
- How has the district improved?
- How does the Wanek Center and Little Raider Child Care (LRCC) impact Fund 10?
- What has been done to balance the budget and preserve the fund balance?
- How does the School Board and District insure that our tax dollars are being spent wisely?
- What is the referendum question that will appear on the ballot?
- If the referendum is approved, how would the District use the funds?
- What if the state provides more funding for public schools?
- What reductions will occur next year regardless of passage of the referendum?
- What happens if the referendum is not approved?
- What legislative advocacy has the Board/District done as it relates to the proposed state budget?
- When is election day?
- Where can I vote?
- Can I vote early?
- How do state requirements for special education impact Fund 10?
- How does the Middle School and Wanek Center benefit from Fund 80 Levy?
- Can the district save money by not providing college level credits?
What is an operational referendum?
Why do Wisconsin school districts seek referendums?
When can Wisconsin school districts place referendum questions on ballot? What is the process?
Why is an operational referendum necessary?
Has the Arcadia School District ever passed an operational referendum?
If approved, will the referendum funds decrease the amount of funding the District receives from the state?
Would more student enrollment provide enough revenue for the District to address the funding gap and avoid an operational referendum?
How has the community been involved in this process?
What are the districts financial needs?
How has the district managed staff payroll increases?
What is the Fund Balance?
Why is the Fund Balance low?
I’ve heard there has been more administrative staff hired over the past few years and this has contributed to our budget issues?
When we say that if we don’t have a referendum, then the property taxes paid in Arcadia go to other districts, what do we mean?
How would an operational referendum impact my taxes?
If the operational referendum is passed and the additional levied funds are not needed, then what happens to the funds?
What is mill rate and how does it impact my taxes?
How does the referendum impact the mill rate?
How would the referendum affect property taxes?
Is there a TID program in the City of Arcadia that is scheduled to expire, and if so, then what does that mean to the Arcadia School District?
Can the District use federal COVID-19 relief funds (ESSER funds) to address its financial needs?
If the Esser Funds are no longer available, then what cuts have been made to accommodate these missing funds?
How are school finances managed?
Who funds our school, why does it fall on the community to fund the majority of our school district?
Why does per pupil spending seem to differ widely across school districts?
How has the district improved?
How does the Wanek Center and Little Raider Child Care (LRCC) impact Fund 10?
What has been done to balance the budget and preserve the fund balance?
How does the School Board and District insure that our tax dollars are being spent wisely?
What is the referendum question that will appear on the ballot?
If the referendum is approved, how would the District use the funds?
What if the state provides more funding for public schools?
What reductions will occur next year regardless of passage of the referendum?
What happens if the referendum is not approved?
What legislative advocacy has the Board/District done as it relates to the proposed state budget?
When is election day?
Where can I vote?
Can I vote early?
How do state requirements for special education impact Fund 10?
How does the Middle School and Wanek Center benefit from Fund 80 Levy?
Can the district save money by not providing college level credits?
Our Beliefs
- Quality Education and Future Ready Students
- Rich, Vibrant, and Learning Culture
- Developing a talented and professional workforce
- Fiscal Responsibility
WHY IS REFERENDUM NEEDED?
Inflation Costs
- Salaries & Benefits
- Insurance
- Building Maintenance
- Utilities
- Transportation
- Equipment
- Classroom Technology
Funding Challenges
- Lack of Special Education Funding
- Lack of State Aid
- Increased State & Federal Mandates
Cost Savings Already in Place
- Rebalanced staffing
- Reduced Transportation Routes
- Deferred Bus Purchases
- Deferred Bldg. Maintenance
- Insurance and Benefit changes
- ES, MS, HS Budget Cuts
- Energy Savings Projects Implemented
- District Paid College Courses Reduced to State Requirements
- Loan Interest Savings over $2m