Institute for reforming government
The tool allows taxpayers to review:
- Additional spending requested by the referendum
- Growth in district staff from 2020 to 2025
- Total temporary federal ESSER III dollars that were allocated to ongoing expenses
The tool uses publicly available state and NCES data.
Taxpayers now have clear, consolidated information in one place, helping inform them about local school referenda.
WHY IT MATTERS
According to IRG’s latest analysis,
- Since 2020, Wisconsin public school enrollment has declined by 49,078 students.
- During that same period, districts added 2,366 staff positions.
- Because fewer students are in classrooms, taxpayers are funding 8,878 additional adult employees statewide compared to 2020.
- Nearly $614 million in temporary federal COVID relief funds were allocated to ongoing costs over two years. With those Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funds now expired, some districts are asking voters to approve additional funding to sustain those temporary spending levels.
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30 October 2025 Madison School Board approves a $668,000,000 budget for 25,557 “full time equivalent” students.