WFB Referendum Fails By 302 Votes
THANK YOU to every person who voted YES, who shared our information, who talked to your neighbors, who helped us canvas, who hosted a yard sign, who donated for yard signs, who got in on the Facebook comments. This was a community effort in every sense.
Although the result wasn't what we'd hoped and is disappointing in many ways - it doesn't change our conviction that strong schools build strong communities. We're still committed. We'll still be here for the next vote to support our students, teachers and village. 300 votes is a gap we can close.
Unofficial Results
What Happens Now?
The Needs Remain
Whitefish Bay schools still need over $100M in facility updates. The school board will need to work on a plan that address the top priority middle school as well as the infrastructure needs of the elementary and high schools.
Likely Another Vote in November 2026
The school board will convene and figure out a plan and process to get to hopefully get a new vote in November 2026. This will likely involve more surveys and include community voices. Please participate!
The Impact of Voting No Are Already Being Felt
The school board has already budgeted wage increases for teachers to meet CPI next year, but hoped to do more. That is now very unlikely, as the district will need to allocate more operational budget to facility repairs. To put it simply - Whitefish Bay teachers will likely get smaller raises than neighboring districts.
Note: School districts are able to ask up to 2 referendum questions a year. The costs will continue to eat into the operating budget until a referendum is passed. If no referendum is passed within 5 to 10 years, the district will need to start making cuts to staffing, compensation, and programs.
Why Use A Referendum?
Schools can’t just raise more money
Wisconsin school funding is set by the state. Each district has a revenue limit per student that cannot be exceeded without voter approval.
Whitefish Bay’s operating budget for 2025–26 is $35.5 million. The district can’t legally raise taxes without a referendum to fund large projects.
Most of the budget is used to pay for staff
About 80% of the operating budget goes to staff salaries and benefits ($28 million).
That leaves about $7 million to cover everything else, including:
• utilities
• technology and equipment
• special education services
• insurance
• routine maintenance
Capital projects are too large for annual budgets
In a good year, the district can save an extra $300K. This amount:
• cannot cover district-wide HVAC replacement ($30M+)
• cannot fund major roof replacements
• cannot pay for large additions or major renovations
School operating budgets are designed for annual expenses, not once-in-a-generation infrastructure upgrades. Referendums, by design, are the mechanism Wisconsin school districts use to fund large capital projects.
The last school facilities referendum in Whitefish Bay was approved in 2009 and funded building maintenance, safety improvements, and school additions.
Help Us for Round 2
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Who We Are
We are a group of engaged parents and community members who believe deeply in the value of strong public schools and the role they play in shaping our community’s future. Our mission is to provide clear, accurate information about the upcoming school capital referendum and why this investment matters for our students, neighbors, and village.
We believe that informed communities make the best decisions — and we’re proud to support a thoughtful, transparent plan for our schools’ future.
This effort is 100% community-driven. We are volunteers who care about safe, modern learning environments, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and long-term planning that benefits both current and future generations. We know strong schools are essential for academic excellence and property values. Our goal is to help voters understand the needs behind the referendum, the solutions being proposed, and the impact this investment will have on our schools and community. Strong schools build strong communities.