Investing in the Future of NOSD

As a result of feedback received from voters, the total amount over four years was reduced by $2,400,000.

Removed the cost to update the track and maintenance shed from the money requested.

Increases in current and projected student enrollment allowed for a reduction in the requested amount.

Hire a total of three additional teachers to address very large class sizes at OES and OMS. $300,000 (27.3%)

Fill the budget deficit to maintain current staffing needed to run day-to-day operations of the school. $600,000 (54.5%)

Retain and attract high quality teachers and support staff.  $200,000 (18.2%)

Many districts around the State of WI (over 70%) are in a declining enrollment.  While NOSD has experienced a decline in enrollment, the past two years there has been an increase in enrollment.  NOSD currently has 720 students enrolled in our schools, which is the highest level since 2018.

Any funds levied in prior years could only be used for debt payments.  State statutes require a school district to get approval from the community to levy additional funds over the State’s revenue limit, through an operational referendum.  This is the process NOSD is currently going through to request additional funds to be used for general operations.

After years of right sizing and strong fiscal management, NOSD is facing a significant budget deficit.  All Wisconsin schools are subject to a revenue limit, which limits the amount of money they can raise through state aid and property taxes.  As a result, NOSD does not receive enough revenue to adequately fund programs and services needed for students.  This is a common challenge for school districts across the state resulting in over 300 of the 421 districts passing an operational referendum to fund operations.

We are facing challenges largely due to factors out of our control, including decades of insufficient funding, inflation, rising operational costs, and unfunded mandates.  This means the district absorbs increasing costs with limited financial support from the state.

The school board plans to keep the school portion of the tax bills the same over the next four years.  If the referendum is approved, this will be done by reducing early debt payments and reallocating the funds for operational purposes.

The proposed referendum asks permission to raise funds specifically for operating needs. By decreasing early debt payments (not NOSD’s required debt payments) and reallocating these funds for operating needs, the District could address future budget deficits. Changing how funds are used, requires community approval.

Unanticipated funding from the state (increasing the allowable revenue limit or state aids) would be very beneficial and could provide flexibility to further lower the mill rate and/or resume prepayment of debt (saving on interest costs). The School Board plans to levy up to $1,100,000 annually, only levying what is truly needed.

Our current student enrollment is currently at 720, the highest student enrollment number since 2018.  Additionally, the District has significantly closed the gap between students who are open enrolling-in vs. open enrolling-out. 

If the operational referendum were to fail in November, the District will likely bring forward a new operational question on the April 2025 ballot.  The district is anticipating an $800,000 operational budget deficit for the 2024-25 school year, if the referendum is unsuccessful.  The only chance to have offset a large deficit for the 2025-26 school year, is if an operational referendum were approved in April 2025.