Community Survey Resources
This page is dedicated to additional information to support the 2026 Community Survey.
Why Are We Conducting This Survey?
The School District of Menomonee Falls is projecting annual deficits that grow to nearly $8 million by the 2030-31 fiscal year. District reserve funds have been used to balance the budget. This approach is not sustainable. Without additional funding, significant cuts to classroom staff positions and student programs will be needed by the 2028-29 school year.
In addition, the District has aging buildings with safety and security needs.
The data gathered from this survey will assist the SDMF Board of Education in making informed decisions about next steps in terms of pursuing possible referendums for both operating and facility needs.
Why Are We In This Position?
1. State Funding Has Not Kept Pace
Wisconsin's school funding formula has not kept pace with inflation for nearly 20 years, while declining enrollment has reduced the District's revenue. In addition, Special Education programming is underfunded by the State, taking away dollars from general operations. These factors have created ongoing budget challenges despite continued efforts to reduce expenses.
2. Costs Continue to Rise
Like families and businesses, the District continues to experience increasing costs for utilities, transportation/fuel, compensation, insurance, capital improvements, equipment, and general supplies.
3. Competitive Pay
At SDMF, the starting pay for teachers and salaries for support staff are lower than almost every other school district in Waukesha County. This makes it difficult to attract and keep the District’s best staff.
4. Safe and Secure Facilities
As safety practices and technology evolve, the District needs to update its buildings and security systems to better protect students and staff.
Is This Just a Menomonee Falls Issue?
Inadequate state funding is not a challenge unique to Menomonee Falls. Since 1993, 88% of Wisconsin school districts have pursued an operational referendum. This past spring, 75 school referenda were on Wisconsin ballots, with 84% being operational—the highest percentage on record. This fall, Wisconsin voters will decide 79 more school referendum questions across the state, 78% of which are operational.
How Are Wisconsin School Districts Funded?
School Districts operate under state-imposed Revenue Limits. The Revenue Limit system was established in 1993 and is outdated and inadequate. Through the Revenue Limit formula, the State limits how much money school districts can receive from state aid and local property taxes.
From 1993-2009, revenue limits had increased with inflation. However, in 2009, the State Legislature stopped adjusting for inflation, and set annual per-pupil increases at a lower, flat dollar amount. The average cumulation of inflation over the last 17 years greatly exceeds the average per-pupil revenue increase in the same period. This is why so many school districts are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of goods and services such as utilities, transportation/ fuel, compensation, insurance, capital improvement, equipment, and general supplies.
Why Do School Districts Need Operational Referendums?
When state funding and local revenue are not enough to cover rising costs, school districts may ask voters to approve an operational referendum. An operational referendum allows a district to exceed its state revenue limit for a specified amount of time to help pay for ongoing operating expenses, such as:
- Staff Salaries and Benefits
- Utilities
- Student Transportation
- Classroom Materials
- Technology
- Building Maintenance
Without additional funding, districts must reduce expenses by making budget cuts.
Wisconsin School Districts that have Passed an Operational Referendum Question Since 1992
A Different Story
If revenue increases had been adjusted for inflation since 2009, SDMF would be receiving $3,571 more per pupil than the District currently is. This means SDMF would be receiving an additional $13 million more in revenue each year had revenue adjustments kept pace with inflation, and an operational referendum would not be needed.
Operational Funding Options
The District is presenting three options instead of one recommendation within the operational portion of the survey. This is designed to gauge which trade-off between cost, service levels, and staff compensation the community is most willing to support before the Board commits to a single ask. The three options below represent referendum scenarios with funding for each of the next four years.
- Option 1: Provide an additional $7.3 million per year
- Option 2: Provide an additional $6.2 million per year
- Option 3: Provide an additional $5.2 million per year
Option 1: Provide an additional $7.3 million per year
Option 2: Provide an additional $6.2 million per year
Option 3: Provide an additional $5.2 million per year
Safe and Secure Facilities
The District’s ongoing, comprehensive facility study will be complete by the end of the year. To date, the process has identified urgent projects, including:
Safety and Security
- Reconfigure parent and bus drop-off and pick-up at Riverside and Valley View Elementary Schools
- Replace/reconfigure interior and exterior doors
- Expand coverage of security cameras
Infrastructure
- Improve/replace aging plumbing, heating/ventilation, and electrical systems
- Replace oldest sections of roofing
- Repair/replace deteriorating parking lots
- Improve electrical and ventilation in the career and technical education (shop) area
Accessibility
- Improve Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access at Riverside Elementary
- Improve accessibility and safety of playground equipment
The funding for these types of projects would need to come from a Facilities Referendum (Capital Referendum). The District would be able to complete some of these projects within a $15 Million Facilities Referendum. These are being brought forward at this time due to their impact on safety and security within our schools and school sites. If funding is secured, these projects would be prioritized within the available funding.
A $15 Million Facilities Referendum would increase taxes by approximately $10 for every $100,000 of property value per year, and assumes a five-year repayment period.
We invite you to join us at one of our informational sessions
Please join us
*******Tuesday, October 27th, at the Menomonee Falls High School Library at either 4:00 pm or 6:30 pm*******
The information shared at sessions will be identical so attendance at both is not necessary. We look forward to seeing you there!
FAQs
- What does the District’s budget forecast look like?
- What efforts have been made to reduce expenses?
- What are the options the district has to balance future budgets?
- Can't a district decrease costs as enrollment declines?
- Can the district raise more money through open enrollment?
- The District has land that is vacant? Can we sell land to balance the budget?
- A portion of the Village of Menomonee Falls is part of the Hamilton-Sussex School District. Is it possible to change district boundaries to get more students?
- How was the District able to pay for the Community Center expansion?
