{"id":10116,"date":"2024-04-04T19:50:53","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T19:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=10116"},"modified":"2024-04-12T06:40:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T06:40:23","slug":"wisconsin-voters-approved-majority-of-school-tax-hike-requests-last-tuesday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=10116","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin voters approved majority of school\u00a0tax-hike requests last Tuesday"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared at https:\/\/www.badgerinstitute.org\/wisconsin-voters-approved-majority-of-school-tax-hike-requests-last-tuesday\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u201d votes prevailed in 61% of school district referenda<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Slightly more than 60% of school district requests to levy higher property taxes were approved by voters on last Tuesday\u2019s ballots throughout the state \u2014 a lower percentage than in recent years but around the historic norm.<\/p>\n

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\"Coin<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A total of 92 referenda were placed before voters on April 2, some asking for increases in taxes used to fund operations, some for building or\u00a0maintenance projects. Approval rates in both instances were close to 60%.<\/p>\n

A Badger Institute analysis found no simple, readily discernible pattern based on geography or amount sought or district size for referenda that were passed versus those that failed \u2014 something\u00a0 that is often the case when looking at referenda that occur on the same date, according to Dale Knapp, the director of Forward Analytics who authored a study last November, K-12 on the Ballot \u2014 Using Referenda to Fund Public Schools<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is so local,\u201d\u00a0said Knapp. \u201cIt is so dependent on the district communications with the public, whether there is a group out there opposed or in support.\u201d\u00a0A \u201cvocal group out there, that can make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Knapp\u2019s study released last year looked only at referenda seeking increases in the revenue limits for operating expenditures.<\/p>\n

Since 2011,\u00a076% of referenda seeking revenue limit increases have been approved by voters, he found.\u00a0Prior to 2011, and going back to 1997, only 44% passed. Overall, 58% have passed over the last 27 years.<\/p>\n

There are some patterns over the longer period, according to Knapp\u2019s study.<\/p>\n