Referendum FAQ

  • 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.

  • 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 roughly $10–$12 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • No.
    The proposal is non-recurring:

    • $800,000 per year

    • For four years

    • Total $3.2 million in temporary operating support

    This creates a bridge while long-term solutions, especially consolidation, are developed responsibly.

  • 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.

  • It looks almost identical.

    Every operational referendum in Wisconsin uses the same statutory structure required under Section 121.91, because all districts must describe funding in general terms.

    LCS’s proposed language aligns with the statewide norm and follows DPI guidance.

  • 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.”