Inspiring Success
REFERENDUM 2025 FACTS
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A STRONG COMMUNITY NEEDS A STRONG SCHOOL
Butternut School has a long history of excellence and community connection. Regardless of your status of having school-aged children, neighborhood schools are essential for fostering stronger communities. They provide a sense of belonging, promote opportunities for future success, enhance neighborhood safety, strengthen social interactions, contribute to the local economy, and offer educational resources to all.
Quality schools have been shown to lead to higher home values, stability in the community, and a higher quality of life for residents. When a community loses its school, all the surrounding businesses begin to suffer the consequences and property values in the area can begin to decrease.
An investment in our school is an investment in our community. Together we're inspiring success.
WHY IS THE BUTTERNUT SCHOOL DISTRICT GOING TO REFERENDUM?
Years of inadequate state funding has put dozens of Wisconsin school districts in the position of having to ask taxpayers for support. The legislature has gone 16 consecutive years without increasing school aid enough to keep up with inflation. The state does not adequately fund their mandates. The costs of special education and mental health have increased and the support from the state only covers approximately 30% of these expenses, causing the district to take from the general fund to cover these costs.
Funds donated by the Besse Foundation were specific in their intended use, and restricted to student scholarships and general operating expenses. As operating costs have increased and revenue limits have decreased over time, our reliance on the operating portion of that fund have increased.
Because Butternut have not gone to taxpayers with a referendum since the failed 2006 vote, taxpayers have enjoyed abnormally low school taxes due to the school’s ability to close the gap with Besse funds.
After making all possible cuts to our existing budget and streamlining operational expenses, our school district has reached a point where additional funding is needed to preserve the quality of education here in Butternut.
The benefits of passing a four (4) year non-recurring referendum and maintaining the school outweigh the financial impact on taxpayers. Without support, Butternut, Agenda and Chippewa communities will face the reality that the Butternut School District may need to close, reconfigure, and/or consolidate with neighboring districts within the next few years. As the largest employer in the Butternut area, the loss of our community school will have a negative financial and cultural impact on everyone, not just individuals with school-age children.
MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION!
Get factual information on how supporting our school will impact you rather than relying on rumors or inaccuracies.
Butternut School District Information Sessions
Town of Chippewa - Wednesday, February 12th @ 6:30 p.m.
Town of Agenda - Wednesday, February 26th @ 6:30 p.m.
Butternut School - Lunch and Learn - Sunday, March 9th @ 11:30 a.m.
Butternut Village Hall - Tuesday, March 18th @ 6:30 p.m.
WHAT WILL A YES VOTE MEAN FOR ME?
The Butternut School District is asking taxpayers to approve an increase in taxes by $1,100,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year and ending with the 2027-2028 school year, to fund operational expenses
That means that property owners will pay an additional annual amount of taxes based on their property value. For someone with a property valued at $100,000 that means approximately $713 each year for the term of the referendum.
Tax Impact
This is the additional amount the referendum would add to your taxes.
HOW DOES SCHOOL FUNDING WORK IN WI?
Video courtesy of Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (WASBO)
WHAT'S A NON-RECURRING OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM?
Like many school districts statewide, the School District of Butternut is facing financial challenges due to factors largely out of our control:
In Wisconsin, a state-imposed revenue limit restricts the amount of money school districts can receive through state aid and local property taxes. The funding formula used to calculate the limit was created more than 30 years ago and is outdated. As a result, the School District of Butternut does not receive adequate levels of funding for student programs and services.
Expenses are also on the rise, affecting all aspects of our district’s operations. This is especially true in areas like mental health and special education, where the District does not receive enough funding to provide state- and federally mandated services for our students. Other rising costs include: transportation, supplies, equipment, and utilities.
Because state funding has not kept pace with inflation, the District has been facing a budget shortfall and has been using the Besse donation to cover this deficit since 2008. Those funds will be depleted if we continue to do so at the rate of deficit that we are experiencing. We are asking the community to help us with the budget shortfall and to maintain our Besse donation by asking them to exceed the revenue limit in a non-recurring referendum.
WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT?
On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, residents of the School District of Butternut will be asked to vote on a non-recurring operational referendum for four years. An approved referendum would help the district address the financial challenges that largely result from the Wisconsin's school funding formula.
The question on the ballot will be as follows:
"Shall the School District of Butternut, Ashland and Price Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,100,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes for paying the ongoing operational expenses of the school district?"
WHERE CAN I VOTE?
Vote In Person
All eligible school district voters may cast their ballot on election day at their normal polling place.
On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, all polling locations will be open from 7:00am to 8:00pm.
Bring your valid WI ID to the polls. Voters are required to provide photo identification.
Absentee Voting
In Wisconsin, you don't have to wait until election day to cast your ballot. Early voting is allowed for any reason as long as deadlines are met.
You can register to vote, ceck your voter registration status, see sample ballots, and request an absentee ballot at the MY VOTE WISCONSIN website: www.myvote.wi.gov
For more information:
Call the District Administrator: 715-769-3434 x332
Email: pollitt@lightatorch.info
Visit the website: www.lightatorch.info and click on "Referendum 2025"
Social Media: Facebook - Butternut School District
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