The Prairie du Chien Board of Education, along with our educators, support staff, and administration, extends sincere gratitude to the Prairie du Chien community for its support of the 2026 operating referendum.
What You Will See on the Ballot on April 7, 2026
BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of the Prairie du Chien Area School District, Crawford County, Wisconsin that the revenues included in the School District budget be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $975,000 per year for three years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses, including maintaining educational programming.
By voting YES, the referendum will pass. By voting NO, it will not.
How Will The Referendum Impact Property Taxes?
The State of Wisconsin school funding formula operates differently than a household or business budget. In Wisconsin, school funding is based on a shared-cost formula that combines local property taxes and state aid.
Local taxpayer support directly affects how much state funding Prairie du Chien receives. Because state aid is tied to district spending, when local funding decreases, state aid may decrease as well.
When Prairie du Chien cannot generate its local share, the district receives less state funding, and those dollars are distributed through the state formula to other districts.
Local support helps Prairie du Chien students receive their full share of state funding.
Prairie du Chen School District is the Second Lowest Mill Rate in the CESA 3 District
The Prairie du Chien School District mill rate is currently the second lowest in the CESA 3 region, which consists of Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Richland Counties.
If the Prairie du Chien School District does not continue in their current state, the DPI allows for consolidation or dissolution.
The residents of the Prairie du Chien School District would still have a public school district in which they would pay property taxes. This could mean paying a higher mill rate then they are currently paying.
Consolidation or dissolution would mean combining with one or more school districts to create a new school district.
The Prairie du Chien School District currently has the second lowest mill rate in the CESA 3 region. Property taxes are expected to increase regardless of the referendum outcome. A successful referendum would result in a higher increase, while helping maintain current programs and student opportunities. Without it, the district may need to consider consolidation, which could lead to higher property taxes if combined with a higher-cost district. Property taxes are based on where you live—and Prairie du Chien’s rate is currently among the lowest in the region. Review the charts to see how this may impact your property value.
View the Community Meeting Presentation
2026 Prairie du Chien Operating Referendum Community Meetings
2026 Prairie du Chien Operating Referendum Community Meeting - Slide 24
How the Wisconsin School Funding Formula Works
The State of Wisconsin school funding formula operates differently than a household or business budget. In Wisconsin, school funding is based on a shared-cost formula that combines local property taxes and state aid.
Local taxpayer support directly affects how much state funding Prairie du Chien receives. Because state aid is tied to district spending, when local funding decreases, state aid may decrease as well.
When Prairie du Chien cannot generate its local share, the district receives less state funding, and those dollars are distributed through the state formula to other districts.
Local support helps Prairie du Chien students receive their full share of state funding.
What Happens When A District Makes Cuts
In Wisconsin, state aid is tied to district spending through the shared-cost funding formula.
When a school district reduces expenses:
District spending decreases
State aid is recalculated
The district receives less state funding
Budget cuts do not result in dollar-for-dollar savings. When Prairie du Chien reduces spending, the district may also receive less state aid, limiting the overall financial impact of those reductions.
Without local taxpayer support, the district’s long-term financial challenges remain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will this referendum do?
Maintain current education programs and services.
Allows the district to access available state funding.
Supports staffing needs for quality education.
Stabilizes the district’s budget.
Taxpayer support allows the district to continue providing high-quality educational opportunities for students.
What is the referendum question on the April 7, 2026 ballot?
BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of the Prairie du Chien Area School District, Crawford County, Wisconsin that the revenues included in the School District budget be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $975,000 per year for three years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses, including maintaining educational programming.
What has already been done?
Closing B.A. Kennedy and selling two district-owned houses.
Eliminated 15 positions and reduced support staff.
Reduced 1 bus route and 5 in-town bus stops.
Reduced athletic funding by 18%.
Reduced academic programming and co-curricular activities.
After making $1.4 million in cuts, any further reductions would directly affect student programs, staffing, and services.
Did the school district lose money on the sale of the houses purchased from the hospital?
No. The district purchased the properties for $191,000 and later sold two of the homes for $355,000. This resulted in a net gain for the district. It is important to note that proceeds from property sales are considered one-time revenue and cannot be relied upon to support ongoing operational expenses.
According to the mill rate chart, if the referendum passes, will Prairie du Chien’s mill rate remain below the CESA 3 average?
Yes. If the referendum passes, the projected school district mill rates are:
$6.81 in 2026–27
$6.63 in 2027–28
$6.49 in 2028–29
These projected rates are all below the current CESA 3 average of $7.54 and the Wisconsin statewide average of $7.09 in the 2025–26 school year
If the school district had to consider consolidation with another district, would property taxes increase?
It is possible. Property taxes for schools are based on the district you reside in. If Prairie du Chien were to consolidate with a district that has a higher mill rate, the school district portion of property taxes could be higher. Prairie du Chien currently has one of the lowest school district mill rates in the CESA 3 region, so consolidation with a higher-cost district could result in an increase.
What happens if the referendum fails?
With the current state of the school district, even after cuts that the school district will have to make, the school district is projected to have a negative fund balance in the 2028-29 school year.
The fund balance serves as a critical financial safeguard, allowing the district to manage unexpected expenses, respond to emergencies, and maintain stable operations without needing to rely on short-term borrowing.
Reaching a negative fund balance is not a sustainable position. It would significantly limit the district’s financial flexibility, increase the likelihood of borrowing to meet day-to-day obligations, and could ultimately lead to more significant and potentially disruptive cuts to programs, staffing, and student opportunities.
In short, without the referendum, the district would face a cycle of continued reductions and growing financial instability, making it increasingly difficult to maintain the level of educational programming and services that the Prairie du Chien community expects and values.
Why did the district build the Performing Arts Center and Fieldhouse?
In 2016, the Prairie du Chien community approved a Capital Improvement referendum that included the addition of the Performing Arts Center and Fieldhouse. These facilities were built to support student opportunities and serve as community spaces that make a positive impact on the economic development of our community. The funds received from this referendum could not have been used for operational costs.
School district funds are separate “buckets,” and each can only be used for specific purposes.
Capital Projects Fund (Fund 41)
Used for major building and facility projects, such as:
Construction
Large-scale renovations
Typically funded through borrowing (referendum-approved).
General Fund (Fund 10)
This is the district’s main operating fund. It supports day-to-day education, including:
Teacher and staff salaries
Classroom instruction and materials
Student services (special education, counseling)
Transportation and administration
Has state funding kept up with inflation?
School funding in Wisconsin has not kept up with inflation. This means that even though costs for salaries, utilities, supplies, and programs rise each year, state funding increases have not matched those rising costs. As a result, districts face tighter budgets and must make difficult choices just to maintain current programs and services.
In this video, Todd Hajewski of Baird Public Finance, explains changes to school funding since 2009 and how state aid has not kept pace with rising costs.
How does the Prairie du Chien School District mill rate compare to other CESA 3 school districts?
The Prairie du Chien School District currently has the second lowest mill rate in the CESA 3 district at $5.33, which includes all 31 school districts in Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Richland Counties. The average mill rate in the CESA 3 district is $7.54 and the current average mill rate in the state of Wisconsin is $7.09.
What staffing reductions have been made since last year's referendum?
Following last year’s unsuccessful referendum, the Prairie du Chien Area School District made staffing reductions as part of $1.4 million in budget cuts. This video provides an overview of those reductions, what they mean for our schools, and how they are impacting programs and services for students. Learn more about the decisions that were made and why they were necessary as the district works to maintain educational opportunities for students.
How did we get here?
A common question we hear in the community is, “How did we get here?” Superintendent Andy Banasik addresses that question in this short video, including the impact of declining enrollment and recent unsuccessful referendums. We encourage you to learn more, ask questions, and make an informed vote this April 7.
Why are so many school districts in Wisconsin going to referendum?
? In this video, Todd Hajewski of Baird Public Finance, explains changes to school funding since 2009 and how state aid has not kept pace with rising costs. Watch to better understand how school funding works and how it impacts Prairie du Chien schools.
