2024 Operational Referendum
Operational Referendum: $100 Million over 4 years
Voters approved the $100 Operational Referendum with an 69% in favor, ensuring vital investments staff and student programs.
Originally, MMSD had estimated that passage of the operations referendum would have a property tax impact of $26 per month for the average homeowner. On October 15, DPI certified the general school aid MMSD will receive for the 2024-25 school year. Due to this, property taxes will be reduced this school year. The property tax bill on the average Madison home is now estimated at $3.38 per month this year on the average Madison home valued at $457,300. This base building revenue begins with $30 million in year 1, $30 million in year 2, $20 million in year 3 and $20 million in year 4. At the end of 4 years in 2027-28, this fully annualized estimate is anticipated to be $87 per month. However, that number is only an estimate and will change based on actual state aid received. * Estimated tax assumptions are based on current home values.
These referenda aren't just about sustaining; it's about thriving. It's about continuing to create environments where teachers flourish and students excel.
Why it matters:
- The investment contributes to a community’s economic viability, including strong property values and livability.
- Investing in early learning, a foundational pillar upon which many of our equity projects are built, benefits our future by instilling a lifelong love of learning and increasing our students’ chances of success throughout their educational careers.
- Attraction and retention of world-class educators are essential to our students’ academic success and benefits youth in the classroom, helping prepare them for success by providing the support and guidance they need to succeed.
- Supporting our students and families benefits the whole community and helps ensure access to behavioral and mental health services that students and families may not otherwise be able to receive.
Key Priority Areas to Ensure College, Career, and Community Readiness
Early Learning
Thanks to the 2020 operating referendum, MMSD has been able to continue to increase four-year-old kindergarten (4K) throughout the district. For the 2023-2024 school year, 27 MMSD schools offer half or full-day 4K programs. For full-day programs, nearly 66% of learners are students of color. In the 2024-2025 school year, we will begin to offer 4K dual-language immersion programming.
MMSD has been making ongoing and sustained investments in early literacy to improve student outcomes. We are continuing to invest in teacher and staff professional development around reading fundamentals and how to teach reading.
Well Rounded Opportunities
Well-rounded opportunities foster creativity within arts and music, providing purposeful engagement with in-depth, varied content knowledge. This ensures students are ready for post-secondary education and opportunities across industries, disciplines, and careers.
Well-rounded opportunities must allow for collaborative learning and exploration, requiring facilities that align to 21st century learning to promote deeper learning. Expansion of programs, updated facilities, and partnerships with Madison College have allowed 61% of students to graduate with some college credit.
Additionally, MMSD students took more than 3,000 Advanced Placement tests in 2023. And 54% of our students participate in co-curricular activities. Our district is continuing to expand opportunities that exist at the high school level to middle school.
Multilingual Education
Multilingual education is also an important priority at MMSD. Twenty-seven percent of students are English language learners. Across our district, 21 schools offer Dual-Language Immersion. MMSD also offers Advanced Placement language courses and the Seal of Biliteracy.
As part of our 2020 Referendum, middle school students now experience daily world language. With globalization and increasing cultural diversity, being bilingual or multilingual opens doors to enhanced communication, cultural understanding, and broader career opportunities.
Culture & Climate
Our teachers and staff work to create thriving school cultures and positive learning environments. Part of this is ensuring inclusive spaces so all of our students feel welcomed and supported at school. For example, the district invested $4.3 million to upgrade accessibility and inclusivity at 33 school playgrounds.
We have also worked to renovate and build private spaces for students’ health and well-being needs. We want our students to be able to be their best selves at school. The MMSD School-Based Mental Health and Well-Being team supports students, families, and school staff at every stage of their educational journey. MMSD has therapists at the four comprehensive high schools as well school-based health centers at 16 middle and elementary schools.
Operations FAQs
- What is the actual wording of the operations referendum ballot question?
- What is the purpose of the operations referendum?
- Are employee wages tied to the referendum?
- What will be the tax impact associated with the passage of the operations referendum?
- Why is the operations referendum structured in the way that it is?
- One of the District's stated goals of the operations question is the "attraction and retention of world-class educators" ... how will this referendum help that?
- Would the additional 2.06% wage increase apply to all staff, or teachers only?
- Will the operations referendum support the whole district or only specific schools?
- Does the Board have the authority to exceed the amounts specified in the operations question in any given year?
- Of MMSD's 4K sites, how many are full-day vs. half-day?