Prescott School District (PSD) is committed to excellence in Academics, Athletics, and Arts and to a model of continuous improvement that has delivered elevated outcomes in our academic performance compared to Middle Border Schools, River Falls, and Hudson Schools. PSD’s continuous academic achievement and the results are proven in the recent Wisconsin Academic Report Card: PSD ranks: #1 among MBC districts and is in the Top 10% for Academic Achievement and Top 15% in Student Growth in Wisconsin and has numerous state champion athletics and activities teams.
The rapidly increasing cost of delivering high-quality education, combined with years of state funding falling short of inflation, has placed the district’s ability to continue offering a comprehensive educational program and exceptional student experience at risk. Without revenue growth to match anticipated increases in expenses, the district will face reductions in our people, and programs, and place academic performance in jeopardy.
The bottom line is that Prescott School District’s revenue will not be enough to meet the increasing expenses needed to sustain our excellence without the support of a voter-approved operating referendum.
Operating Referendum: April 2, 2024
On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, residents of the Prescott School District will vote on a crucial operating referendum question. An approved referendum would help the district address the financial challenges that largely result from Wisconsin’s school funding formula.
The question on the ballot asks voters to approve a recurring operating referendum of $1.2 million that would provide additional funds to sustain our excellence including robust educational programs and services, as well as the ability to retain and attract high-quality staff that have provided the level of performance the Prescott Community has come to expect.
Thanks to sound fiscal management, the school board would be able to minimize the future impact of the referendum on our property taxpayers. If property values remain the same, the estimated annual tax impact of the referendum is estimated to be $80 per $100,000 or $320 per $400,000 of assessed fair market property value.
Wisconsin Public School Funding 101
Since 1993, Wisconsin school districts have been primarily funded by a combination of state aid and local property taxes.
Each school district in Wisconsin has a revenue limit created by the state budget that caps the amount of money a district can receive through state aid and local property taxes. A district’s revenue limit is directly linked to two things: enrollment and state-approved adjustments. In most cases, the revenue limits have not kept pace with inflation and have forced 82% of school districts across Wisconsin to seek voter-approved operating levies to offset their funding issues, Prescott is no different.
PSD Operational Referendum FAQ's
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