Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin, Revenue Limit Increase Measure (April 2024)

Milwaukee Public Schools Revenue Limit Increase Measure
Election date April 2, 2024
Topic Local school budgets
Status Approved
Type Referral

Milwaukee Public Schools Revenue Limit Increase Measure was on the ballot as a referral in Milwaukee Public Schools on April 2, 2024. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the school district to incrementally increase its annual revenue limit by a total of $252 million over four years and maintaining that level thereafter with an estimated property tax increase of $216 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing the school district to incrementally increase its annual revenue limit.

The measure was designed to increase the Milwaukee Public Schools revenue limit by the following amounts:

• by $140 million for the 2024-2025 school year;
• by an additional $51 million for the 2025-2026 school year;
• by an additional $47 million for the 2026- 2027 school year; and
• by an additional $14 million (for a total of $252 million) for the 2027-2028 school year and thereafter.

Increased revenue was set to be used to fund educational programming, career and technical education programs, teachers' salaries, and improvements to art, music, physical education, and language programs. District officials estimated the measure would result in a property tax increase of $216 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

A simple majority was required for the approval of the measure.

Election results

Milwaukee Public Schools Revenue Limit Increase Measure
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		41,589	51.06%
No		39,866	48.94%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Revenue Limit Increase Measure was as follows:

“

Shall the Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee and Washington Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $140 million for the 2024-2025 school year; by an additional $51 million for the 2025-2026 school year; by an additional $47 million for the 2026- 2027 school year; and by an additional $14 million (for a total of $252 million) for the 2027-2028 school year and thereafter, for the recurring purposes of sustaining educational programming, including offering career and technical education programs, attracting and retaining certified educators, and further improving art, music, physical education and language programs?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

The referendum was proposed by Milwaukee Public Schools.

Arguments

• Milwaukee Public Schools: "Since 2020, MPS has made significant investments in students, resulting in smaller class sizes and expanded art, music, libraries, and physical education. MPS wants to maintain these investments. Due to the State of Wisconsin’s underfunding of schools, however, MPS is facing a $200 million budget shortfall in the 2024–25 school year. In 2021 and 2022, the State of Wisconsin froze per-pupil funding for public schools for two years in a row for the first time ever. That freeze, coupled with the highest inflation since 1981, accelerated the decline in support for our children. The last time that per-pupil funding matched inflation was 2009."

Opposition

Ballotpedia did not identify committees, organizations, or individuals opposing the ballot measure. If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Background

Wisconsin school revenue limits

The 1993-1994 school year was the first year Wisconsin enforced school revenue limits across the state. A revenue limit is the maximum amount of revenue the district is allowed to raise via property taxes according to state law. Revenue limits differ from year to year because they are determined by student enrollment, inflation, and the prior year's revenue. The revenue limit for the 2019-2020 school year for Milwaukee Public Schools was $804.9 million.

A similar measure was on the ballot in 2020 and was approved by voters with 77.59% of voters in favor and 22.41% opposed. The measure increased the revenue limit by a total of $87 million between 2020 and 2024.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in Wisconsin

This measure was put on the ballot by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Wisconsin

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Wisconsin.

How to vote in Wisconsin

Poll times

In Wisconsin, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Wisconsin, one must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Wisconsin for at least 28 days prior to the election. A voter must be at least 18 years of age by Election Day.

Prospective voters can register online or by mailing a form to their municipal clerk. If registering by mail, the application must be postmarked no later than 20 days before the election. In-person registration must be completed by 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day. Prospective voters can also register in person at their municipal clerk's office up until the Friday before the election or at their polling place on Election Day. (Same-day voter registration requires proof of residency.)

Automatic registration

Wisconsin does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Wisconsin has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Wisconsin law requires 28 days of residency in a precinct before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Wisconsin does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who provides false information "may be subject to fine or imprisonment under State and Federal laws."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site My Vote, run by the Wisconsin Election Commission, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Wisconsin requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of May 2023. Click here for the Wisconsin Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

• Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued driver license, even if driving privileges are revoked or suspended
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued identification card, with or without a photo
• Military ID card issued by the U.S. Uniformed Services
• U.S. passport book or card
• Identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin (can be expired or unexpired)
• Photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college, or technical college, containing the date the card was issued and a signature. (If expired, the voter must also provide a separate document proving enrollment).
• Veteran's photo ID card issued by a government authority
• Certificate of naturalization issued within the past two years
• Driver’s license receipt issued by Wisconsin Department of Transportation (valid for 45 days from date issued)
• Identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin Department of Transportation (valid for 45 days from date issued)
• Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles ID Petition Process Photo Receipt (valid for 60 days from date issued)

The following voters do not need to provide photo ID:

• Confidential electors
• Active military and permanent overseas voters who vote by absentee ballot
• Indefinitely confined voters who vote by absentee ballot

Voters can obtain a free Wisconsin State ID Card at a Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles office. Voters need the following to apply for an ID:

• Proof of name and date of birth (birth certificate)
• Proof of identity (Social Security Card, Medicaid/Medicare Card, etc.)
• Proof of Wisconsin residency (utility bill, government mail, lease, etc.)
• Proof of U.S. citizenship (U.S. Birth certificate or citizenship paperwork)
• Social Security Number

Voters who do not have all or any of the materials listed above can still obtain an ID. Call the voter ID hotline for assistance at (844) 588-1069.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2024
• Local school budgets on the ballot

• Milwaukee County measures

Wisconsin

• Wisconsin 2024 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Wisconsin
• Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

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