If You Support Our Schools, Vote YES By April 7
We expect this vote to be close. Referendums don’t fail because people oppose them, they fail because supporters don’t turn out.
Let us know you’re voting YES so we can help you make a plan to vote.
Referendum Details
Election Day
April 7, 2026
Total Referendum Amount
$135.6M over 20 years
Estimated Tax Impact
$260 per $100,000 of property value
Property value
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$685,000 (avg)
$800,000
$1,000,000
Impact / year
$520
$1,040
$1,560
$1,781
$2,080
$2,600
Per month
$43
$87
$130
$148
$173
$217
What a YES Vote Means
Protecting Future Classrooms: Old, unreliable systems divert operational dollars away from teachers and students to ensure functional buildings. Continuing to support high, specialized maintenance and emergency repairs means less available money for classrooms.
Securing Our Schools: Bringing every building up to modern safety, security, and accessibility standards.
Educational Excellence: To maintain a top performing school, students and teachers need an environment that can accommodate modern classroom learning and activities. A 100 yr old building that was renovated into a middle school does not allow for new best practices.
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 70% of the operating budget goes to staff salaries and benefits ($25 million).
That leaves about $10 million to cover everything else, including:
• utilities
• technology and equipment
• special education services
• insurance
• building maintenance
Capital projects are too large for annual budgets
Even if the district saves $2–3 million per year, that amount:
• cannot cover district-wide HVAC replacement
• 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.
What Your YES Vote Funds
Updated Facilities and Safety Improvements
Proposed projects: Replace aging HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems and improve building safety and accessibility.
| Current Problems | Proposed Solution |
|---|---|
| Aging HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems: some dating back to 1940s. High maintenance costs and specialized parts needed for repairs | New systems improve energy efficiency, reduce maintenance, and lower the risk of emergency repairs |
| Classroom HVAC units are loud, disrupting student attention | Centralized systems remove equipment from classrooms and reduce noise |
| Elementary school main areas do not have sprinkler systems | Installs sprinkler systems in main areas to meet current fire safety standards |
| Elementary school main entrances aren’t accessible and have security concerns | Provides secure, accessible main entrances with improved visibility and controlled access |
| Drop-off and pick-up areas create traffic congestion and safety concerns | Improves traffic flow and safety for walkers, bikers, and vehicles |
| Maintenance and emergency repairs draw from the operating budget and savings | More reliable systems reduce unexpected repairs and allow for more predictable maintenance planning |
| Current Problems | Proposed Solution |
|---|---|
|
Aging HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems |
New infrastructure improves efficiency, reduces maintenance, and lowers the risk of emergency repairs |
| Existing building layout limits flexibility and accessibility | Classrooms designed to support different group sizes and learning activities |
| Existing building design cannot adapt to modern learning practices | Purpose-built spaces for modern learning, including maker spaces, and flexible project areas |
| Hallway congestion and limited supervision in some areas | Layout improves visibility, circulation, and supervision |
| Limited accessibility in parts of the building, including bathrooms and level changes | Fully accessible design throughout the building |
| Construction costs increase over time | Building now avoids ongoing spending on end-of-life systems and reduces total long-term cost |
Modernized Middle School
Proposed project: Build a new middle school as a long-term solution
What Happens If This Doesn’t Pass?
The Needs Don’t Go Away
Whitefish Bay schools need over $100 million in facility updates. If the referendum does not pass, those needs don’t disappear. They become more expensive, more disruptive, and harder to manage over time.
Operating Budget Impact
Without referendum funding, major repairs are paid from the district’s operating budget and reserves. As maintenance costs rise, less funding is available for teacher pay, class sizes, and additional learning programs.
Delaying Costs More
Construction costs increase about 4–6% per year. $135.6M today may cost $200M+ million in 10 years. Piecemeal replacements also increase costs due to losing economies of scale.
Increased Classroom Disruption
Without system replacement, WFB risks school closures or other learning disruptions for failing systems.
Voting NO doesn’t save money. It increases costs and impacts student learning.
Join the YES Count
This referendum will pass only if supporters actually turn out to vote.
Add yourself to the confidential YES voter list so we know you’re counted and can help you vote on April 7.
Your information is confidential and will only be used by this volunteer group to coordinate turnout. Read our Privacy & Use Policy.
Additional Resources
Source of truth for all district information about the referendum.
Background on revenue limits, tax levy, special ed funding, and referendums in WI.
Outlines other options considered with costs and shows what they decided NOT to do.
Even more resources
School Tours & Info Sessions
Please consider attending these to better understand the current situation as well as to offer support. Childcare is provided by the district.
Mon, Feb 2 at Richards Great Hall
6pm Building Tour
7pm Presentation + Q&A
Link to recording
Tue, Feb 17 at WFB High School Link
6pm Building Tour
7pm Presentation + Q&A
Thu, Feb 19 at Lydell Gym
1:30pm Building Tour
2pm Presentation + Q&A
Tue, Feb 24 at Cumberland Great Room
6pm Building Tour
7pm Presentation + Q&A
Wed, Mar 4 at WFB Middle School Gym
6pm Building Tour
7pm Presentation + Q&A
Mon, Apr 6 at WFB Middle School Gym
6pm Building Tour
7pm Presentation + Q&A
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 build strong communities, and 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.