Senate Bill 81 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 raise excess revenue on a permanent basis. Instead, it restricts the authority to exceed revenue limits to nonrecurring purposes only, with a maximum duration of four years for any such referendum. This means that school boards will need to adopt resolutions specifying the nonrecurring nature of the proposed excess revenue and the number of school years it will apply to, which cannot exceed four.

Additionally, the bill amends the requirements for how referenda are conducted, including the need for ballots to clearly state the nonrecurring purpose of the excess revenue. It also clarifies that any excess revenue approved for nonrecurring purposes will not be included in the base for determining future revenue limits. These changes aim to provide more stringent controls on school district funding and ensure that any additional revenue raised through referenda is temporary and clearly defined.

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