Frequently Asked Questions

  • Stability — not expansion.

    The operational referendum maintains:

    • classroom staffing

    • core academics

    • student support services

    • daily operations

    • predictable functioning while consolidation is explored

    It does not create new programs, positions, or initiatives.
    It simply protects what we have during a transitional period.

  • No. This referendum is designed to maintain current services, staffing, and programming — not to expand the district or add new programs.

    The funds would be used to continue operating Lake Country School at its current level and to cover rising costs that are not fully funded by the state. Any future changes to programs or staffing would continue to follow the same community input and school board approval processes already in place.

  • No.

    This referendum is temporary. It would be in effect for four years, after which it expires .

  • The request is for:

    • $800,000 per year

    • For four years

    • Total of $3.2 million in temporary operating support

    This creates a bridge while long-term solutions are vetted thoughtfully.

  • We know the language used on ballot questions can feel confusing or overly formal. It’s not how we normally talk as neighbors or parents, and it can be hard to tell what it actually means at first glance.

    That’s because referendum questions are written in a format required by Wisconsin state law and must use specific legal language — even when the goal is something straightforward.

    Here is the exact language voters will see on the ballot:

    Shall the Lake Country School District, located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $800,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses?

    While the wording may sound broad, this question simply asks whether Lake Country School can exceed the state’s revenue limit by a specific amount, for a limited period of time, to support day-to-day school operations.

    If you’re wondering why the language is written this way, and what it does (and does not) allow, the next question explains that in more detail.

  • Because state law requires it.

    Wisconsin statutes mandate that referendum questions use high-level descriptions of how funds may be used. Every district, large or small, follows the same format.

    The broad language ensures:

    • legal compliance

    • flexibility for changing needs

    • protection against being locked into outdated or overly specific uses

    The details come from public meetings, presentations, and community communication. Not the sentence on the ballot.

Start Here: The Basics

  • Based on the district’s current estimates:

    • $100,000 home: about $13 per year

    • $300,000 home: about $39 per year

    • $500,000 home: about $65 per year

    • $1,000,000 home: about $130 per year

    That’s less than $11 per month for the average household — a small, predictable impact that maintains stability, protects the student experience, and keeps future decisions local.

    These estimates will be updated as new valuation and aid data becomes available.

  • Property taxes can change regardless of whether this referendum passes.

    The key difference is certainty and local control.

    If the referendum passes, the tax impact is known, limited, and approved by the community. If it does not pass, future funding decisions, and any resulting impacts, are uncertain and outside the district’s control.

    This referendum allows the community to make a proactive, locally guided decision rather than react to uncertainty later.

  • If the referendum fails, the district cannot exceed state revenue limits. This means the district would need to rely on additional cost reductions or future state funding decisions, which are unpredictable and not controlled locally.

    A “no” vote does not guarantee that taxes will not change. It means there is no locally approved plan in place.

Cost & Tax Impact

  • For more than 15 years, state revenue limits have increased far below inflation. Meanwhile, the cost of running a school — staffing, utilities, transportation, benefits, instructional needs, and state-mandated services — has steadily risen. This mismatch has created a structural deficit statewide, not just at LCS.

    Lake Country has already made more than $1.6 million in cuts to stay afloat. But efficiency alone cannot close a funding gap created by state policy.

    An operational referendum provides short-term stability while the district and community work toward long-term solutions, including responsible consolidation planning.

  • Yes. LCS faced financial pressures that accumulated over many years — the same pressures felt across Wisconsin. These included:

    • State funding that did not keep up with inflation

    • Staffing levels that no longer aligned with enrollment

    • Post-employment benefit obligations that were costly

    These were systemic, statewide issues, not one-time mistakes.

    Over the last three years, LCS has taken major steps to correct course:

    • right-sizing staffing

    • restructuring benefits (including ending OPEB eligibility)

    • implementing cost reductions across departments

    • reducing more than $1.6M from the budget

    • transitioning to a more cost-effective health plan

    The district is now operating as leanly as it can without harming educational quality. Continued cuts would directly impact students.

  • Yes.

    Lake Country School’s current financial challenges did not happen overnight. In addition to state funding constraints and rising costs, prior governance and administrative decisions played a significant role in creating structural budget pressures that became unsustainable over time.

    As shown in recent district financial presentations, earlier adjustments to staffing levels and post-employment benefit obligations would have placed the district in a significantly stronger financial position today. Those changes were not made at the time, and their impact accumulated over many years.

    For clarity, the current superintendent began with the district in the 2022–23 school year. The earlier decisions referenced above occurred prior to his tenure and were inherited by the current leadership team.

    Beginning in the 2023–24 school year, the current board and administration implemented significant corrective actions, including more than $1.6 million in budget reductions, benefit restructuring, and staffing alignment with enrollment.

    This referendum reflects that course correction — providing stability now while ensuring future decisions are made with stronger financial discipline, transparency, and long-term planning.

    For those who want additional financial context, including district-presented data, we’ve shared more detail on our How We Got Here page.

Why This Is Needed

What Happens if it Passes or Fails

  • Based on district projections, the fund balance is projected to go negative in 2028–2029 if no action is taken. A negative fund balance is not permitted under Wisconsin law, and there is no established state process for districts that run out of funds.

    If the referendum fails:

    • LCS would need to pursue immediate, significant cuts

    • Programs, services, and staffing would be affected

    • Consolidation or reorganization would likely be accelerated

    • The district would lose control over the pace and structure of these changes

    A “no” vote does not avoid change. It simply removes local control over how those changes occur.

  • Consolidation isn’t simply relocating students. It’s the full legal merger of two school districts, requiring the alignment of:

    • curriculum

    • student policies

    • employee handbooks

    • pay scales and contracts

    • HR systems

    • technology environments

    • governance structures

    • budgets

    • taxing authorities

    And most importantly:
    Both communities must vote to approve the merger.

    This is a multi-step, multi-year process that must be done responsibly to avoid unintended consequences for students, staff, and taxpayers.

    A referendum gives LCS the stability and time needed to pursue consolidation thoughtfully.

  • Because they are unified school districts. Meaning all their schools already operate within one organizational structure.

    When Waukesha or KM shifted students or reconfigured buildings, they were reorganizing inside one district, not merging two separate districts with two boards, two tax bases, two sets of contracts, and multiple municipalities.

    LCS spans six municipalities (Nashotah, City of Delafield, Town of Delafield, Merton, Hartland, Chenequa), each with distinct boundaries and tax bases. That complexity does not exist in unified districts.

    Our consolidation timeline will naturally be more complex and requires careful planning.

  • For roughly the cost of two coffees a month, the referendum:

    • maintains local control

    • stabilizes class sizes and staffing

    • protects programs and student support

    • preserves property values

    • keeps LCS financially viable long enough to pursue consolidation carefully

    • avoids forced, abrupt changes dictated by external factors

    This is the most practical, responsible, and community-centered path forward while long-term solutions are developed.

  • “It’s about $5-$10 a month to keep LCS stable while long-term consolidation is planned. To make sure decisions stay in our community, not in Madison.”

  • Detailed financial questions are addressed in our Financial FAQ.

The Bottom Line