summary
Introduced
02/26/2025
02/26/2025
In Committee
02/26/2025
02/26/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill eliminates recurring operating referenda and limits a nonrecurring operating referendum to no more than four years. Current law generally limits the total amount of revenue a school district may receive from general school aids and property taxes in a school year. However, there are several exceptions to the revenue limit. One exception is for excess revenue approved by referendum for recurring and nonrecurring purposes. This type of referendum is often referred to as an operating referendum. If the operating referendum is for a nonrecurring purpose, a school district[s authority to raise excess revenue is approved only for specific school years. If the operating referendum is for a recurring purpose, the school district[s authority to raise excess revenue is permanent. Under the bill, an operating referendum to exceed a school district[s revenue limit may be only for nonrecurring purposes and the referendum may not apply to more than four years.
AI Summary
This bill modifies Wisconsin's school district operating referendum rules by eliminating recurring operating referenda and strictly limiting nonrecurring operating referenda to a maximum of four years. Under current law, school districts can exceed their standard revenue limits through referenda that allow additional funding for either recurring (permanent) or nonrecurring (temporary) purposes. The bill changes this by mandating that any operating referendum can only be for nonrecurring purposes and must specify the exact number of school years the excess revenue will apply to, with a strict cap of four years. School boards must adopt a resolution detailing the proposed excess revenue, its specific purpose, and the number of years it will be in effect, and then submit this resolution to a voter referendum. The ballot will clearly state that the excess revenue is for a nonrecurring purpose, and if approved by a majority of voters, the revenue limit will be increased accordingly. The bill also removes language that previously allowed for recurring excess revenue, effectively ensuring that any additional school district funding through referenda is temporary and requires periodic voter reapproval.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (21)
Chris Kapenga (R)*,
Steve Nass (R)*,
Cory Tomczyk (R)*,
Scott Allen (R),
Elijah Behnke (R),
Lindee Brill (R),
Barbara Dittrich (R),
Robert Donovan (R),
Cindi Duchow (R),
Joy Goeben (R),
Chanz Green (R),
Brent Jacobson (R),
Dan Knodl (R),
Rob Kreibich (R),
Dave Maxey (R),
Paul Melotik (R),
Dave Murphy (R),
Adam Neylon (R),
Jerry O'Connor (R),
Chuck Wichgers (R),
Shannon Zimmerman (R),
Last Action
Public hearing held (on 05/06/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb81 |
| SB81 ROCP for Committee on Education | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/education/1924885.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB81.pdf |
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