Southern Door County School District announces round of cuts to balance '26-'27 budget, May 7, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
BRUSSELS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Southern Door County School District Board of Education announced Thursday it is considering adding an operational referendum question on the November ballot. It’s not clear when the board will decide whether to go forward with adding the question or not.
It comes after a non-recurring operational referendum question failed in this year’s spring election. 56% of voters said “no” to a three-year operational referendum worth $3.15 million per year. This has resulted in the district cutting jobs and eliminating sports teams.
“Like many school districts across Wisconsin, we are facing financial challenges that require us to carefully evaluate how we can continue providing the high-quality educational opportunities our students deserve,” said Superintendent Dr. Kevin Krutzik in a news release. “The board’s decision to explore an operational referendum for November is an important step in that process. We are committed to engaging our staff, families, and community members as we evaluate our options.”
The cuts still left the district with a $1.67 million budget deficit, according to a news release Thursday. The district says if the board decides to pursue a November referendum, the amount sought would be less than the $3.15 million proposal in April.
Southern Door schools operated on a $975,000 referendum for the last three years. That referendum ended June 30.
Referendum critics argue schools need to do more to reduce spending. Some say amid declining enrollment schools shouldn’t hire as many teachers or administrators. At some meetings, the public has pushed against cutting teachers to save money.
In May, the Wisconsin State Senate rejected a budget deal which included $600 million from Wisconsin’s $4.6 billion surplus for schools. School districts, including Southern Door in Thursday’s news release, argue state spending for schools has not kept up with inflation. State Senators rejected the deal arguing it would create a $2.9 billion deficit in the state budget.
The next regular monthly meeting for the Southern Door school board is August 17.
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