At its January 13 Board of Education meeting, the New Lisbon Board of Education approved placing a non-recurring operational referendum question on the April 1, 2025 ballot. The following information is provided to help the community understand the need for the operational referendum and provide clear information about its importance and impact.

What is asked of voters?

Renew a non-recurring operational referendum to:

• Day-to-day operations of the New Lisbon School District 

• Repair roof sections 25 years + old

• Investigate and repair as much water damage as possible

How much?

• $1.95 million per year, for four school years: 2026-27 through 2029-30

• Estimated tax impact of $1.36 per $1000 of fair market value

Why timing is critical: 

• The voter-approved referendum will avoid an operational deficit and allow the district to continue to operate. 

• Without approval, the discussion will be about substantial reductions or dissolution of the district.

Why Now?

New Lisbon's current four-year referendum will expire at the end of the 2025-2026 school year (June 2026). Planning for the next school year begins as early as winter 2025. The school board is asking voters to approve the continuation of funding. The referendum on the April 1, 2025 ballot would go into effect July 1, 2026, when the existing referendum expires.

This is important for several reasons:

Fiscal Stewardship: A passed referendum enables efficient planning, smarter project scheduling, and better financial decisions.

Maintain Staff and Programs: Without funding by early 2026, cuts risk losing staff and programs, worsening enrollment and retention.

Time-Sensitive: There are limited opportunities in the regular election cycle to place a referendum on the ballot before budgeting and decision-making begins. These are April 2025 or April 2026. Failure in 2026 leaves no time to recover before funding ends in June, therefore April 2025 was selected as the most responsible choice.

What will the funds be used for?

Ongoing, day-to-day operations of the school district, such as staffing, insurance, transportation, utilities, etc., so it can continue educational programming for students. 

Critical maintenance including:

• Replacing any roof sections over 25 years old

• Investigate the cause of water damage on the building’s envelope and repair as much as possible with the funds available

Tax Impact (estimated)

The cost of a referendum to the taxpayer is calculated using a tax mill rate. As the following chart shows, if approved by the voters, the mill rate impact of the referendum will be $ 1.36 per $1,000 of property fair market value, or $136 per year for a $100,000 home. (Everyone’s fair market value is unique and can be found on your property tax bill.)

What voters will see on the ballot:

BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of the School District of New Lisbon, Juneau and Monroe Counties, Wisconsin that the revenues included in the School District budget be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,950,000 a 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 ongoing educational programming and maintenance of facilities and grounds.

This FAQ provides essential information about how the referendum will address critical facility needs that will contribute to the sustainable long-term success of the district.

More Information and Resources:

• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

• Press Releases 

• Learn how to cast your ballot at My Vote Wisconsin

• Public Information Meetings:

  • February 5, 1:00 pm @ New Lisbon Memorial Public Library

  • February 25, 5:30 pm @ New Lisbon School Library (IMC)

  • March 18, 5:30 pm @ New Lisbon School Library (IMC)

Questions?

• Contact Superintendent Scott Hickey