School funding proposals fared poorly across northeastern and central Wisconsin on Tuesday, as voters rejected five of the seven district referendums on area ballots in unofficial results.
The closest vote was in the Pulaski Community School District, where a $59.8 million facilities referendum failed by 127 votes, with 5,752 voting no and 5,625 voting yes. The plan would have funded work at Lannoye Elementary School, career and technical education classrooms at the middle school, and extensive improvements at Pulaski High School, including a community swimming pool, fitness facilities, classroom renovations, tennis courts and expanded parking.
In Seymour, voters rejected a proposal to exceed state revenue limits by $5 million a year for three years, by a vote of 2,812 to 2,354. The money would have covered operating and maintenance costs, including staffing and programs. Gillett voters also rejected $1.9 million a year in added operating revenue, Tomorrow River voters turned down $1.1 million a year, and Weyauwega-Fremont voters rejected an $8.45 million facilities plan by 161 votes.
Two districts won approval. Iola-Scandinavia voters passed added operating authority, 1,311 to 1,210, allowing the district to exceed revenue limits by $1.2 million next school year and $1.5 million a year for the following three years. Oconto Unified voters approved exceeding the revenue limit as well, 1,898 to 1,623.
Districts whose referendums failed will now have to decide how to address their budgets and building plans within existing revenue limits.
