Assembly Bill 71 proposes significant changes to the regulations surrounding school district operating referenda in Wisconsin. The bill eliminates the option for recurring operating referenda, which currently allows school districts to permanently exceed their revenue limits. Instead, it restricts operating referenda to nonrecurring purposes only, with a maximum duration of four years. This means that any excess revenue approved through a referendum can only be utilized for a limited time frame, thereby altering the financial planning and budgeting strategies of school districts.

The bill also includes specific amendments to existing statutes. For instance, it requires that any resolution adopted by a school board to exceed revenue limits must clearly state that the proposed excess revenue is for a nonrecurring purpose and specify the number of school years the resolution applies to. Additionally, the language regarding the ballot for the referendum is updated to ensure it reflects the nonrecurring nature of the proposed revenue. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that excess revenue approved for nonrecurring purposes will not be included in the base for determining future revenue limits, thereby impacting how school districts plan for subsequent years.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 121.91(3)(a)1, 121.91, 121.91(3)(c), 121.91(7)