Glendale-River Hills School District

Why is the referendum on the ballot? 

Across Wisconsin, school funding has not kept pace with rising costs. While expenses for staffing, benefits, utilities, transportation, and special education continue to grow, school districts are limited by state revenue caps that do not automatically adjust for inflation. Because districts cannot raise prices or generate new revenue on their own, voters are regularly asked to approve operating referendums simply to maintain current programs and services. Glendale-River Hills has had a series of operational referendums in place since 2011 to maintain educational programs. The current $4.5 million operational referendum expires this year and we are asking voters for a replacement. 

This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is set up to answer key questions that voters may have such as: 

• Why are school districts statewide in this position?
• How has the Glendale-River Hills School District addressed its budget concerns?
• What does this referendum mean for our school district?
• What does it mean for students, families, and community?
• What is the estimated Property Tax Impact?
• How can I find more information on registering to vote, voting absentee, or voting early in-person?

Since 1994, Wisconsin public schools have been funded primarily through a combination of state aid and local property taxes, both of which are capped by the state through revenue limits. These limits have not kept pace with inflation. The state legislature positions this lag as empowering local voters to determin how to fund public school districts. As of 2025, over 85% of Wisconsin school districts have held  operational referendums to fully fund their districts. 

Inflationary Funding Shortfalls

If school funding had kept pace with inflation over the past decade, Wisconsin districts would be allowed to spend about $2,574 more per student per year. For Glendale–River Hills, which serves approximately 950 students, this represents about $2.4 million annually in lost revenue capacity.

Special Education Funding

Wisconsin currently reimburses no more than 35% of special education costs. Districts are legally required to provide these services and must cover the remaining 65% locally using general operating funds. In the past year alone, Glendale-River Hills transferred approximately $2.5 million from its general fund to support special education services because of  how Wisconsin’s Special Education funding is allocated.

Combined, inflationary funding shortfalls and unreimbursed special education costs create an estimated $4.9 million annual gap between revenues and expenditures for the Glendale-River Hills school district.

Over the past 18 months, under new leadership and a largely new School Board, GDRH has made significant progress restoring financial stability and transparency.  An overhaul of the Business Office, new financial systems and public monthly reporting were implemented. Revenues increased by $9.9 million, and expenditures were reduced by $2.3 million compared to the prior year.  All audits are current and filed, and the expiration of the 2019 non-recurring referendum has resulted in a lower mill rate for taxpayers in 2025.

The 2024 voter approved $4.5 million, two-year operating referendum, that expires this year, creates a significant revenue cliff for the 2026-27 school year and beyond. 

The funds from the 2024 two-year $4.5 million operating referendum supported:

• Core academic and allied arts programs, including band, orchestra, choir, technical education, and STEM
• Small class sizes and student to teacher ratios
• Competitive staff compensation to attract and retain quality educators
• Rising employee healthcare costs
• Daily and emergency maintenance needs

Unfortunately, GDRH has needed to rely on temporary, non-recurring operating referendums to fund basic operations because state aid and revenue limits have been insufficient since 2011.

Without a replacement referendum, the District would face deficit spending or deep cuts to essential educational services, impacting program quality and student learning.

GDRH is seeking a replacement non-recurring operating referendum because temporary solutions are expiring while structural funding challenges remain unresolved at the state level. The referendum process is the only legal mechanism available to maintain current programs and services under Wisconsin law.

Students and Families 

If the referendum passes, students and families will...

• Continue to benefit from smaller, more stable class sizes at Parkway and Glen Hills
• Maintain access to reading and math intervention and individualized academic support
• Continue to receive advanced learning opportunities for students needing additional challenge or identified as Gifted & Talented
• Preserve middle school programming, including Tech Ed, STEAM, music (band, orchestra, choir), and world languages
• Maintain access to counselors, psychologists, and social workers for academic and social-emotional support
  Continue to be served by high-quality educators the District can attract and retain
• Learn in safe, well-maintained buildings that can address ongoing maintenance needs
• Benefit from updated curriculum materials and instructional technology

If the referendum fails, students and families may experience:

• Larger class sizes and higher student-to-teacher ratios
• Reduced individualized academic support and fewer intervention services
• Limited enrichment and advanced learning opportunities
• Fewer course offerings in Tech Ed, STEAM, music, and world languages
• Reduced access to mental health and student support services
• Decreased staffing stability and challenges retaining high-quality educators
• Outdated curriculum materials and instructional technology
• Delayed building maintenance impacting the learning environment

Community

If the referendum passes the community will... 

• Maintain strong, high-quality public schools that support local property values
• Keep schools stable and attractive to current and future homeowners as enrollment studies project stable enrollment and we have experienced a recent increase in resident enrollment.
• Maintain class sizes, academic supports, and enrichment programs that signal a high-performing district
• Support a strong education system that prepares students to be skilled and prepared for the next step in their educational journey at Nicolet
• Preserve community pride by sustaining schools that reflect shared values and investment
• Support continued maintenance of school facilities, protecting taxpayer assets
• Allow the District to maintain programs and staffing now, while working with the community after the election to plan future facility investments and consider long-term options, including the Good Hope property.
• Provides financial stability while the District engages the community in long-term facility planning to reduce future operational costs
   

If the referendum fails the community may...

• Experience program cuts and larger class sizes that may reduce school quality and district stability
• See the loss of academic and enrichment opportunities, making the community less attractive to homebuyers
• Experience deferred maintenance which further  increases long-term costs and can negatively impact neighborhood perception
• Experience fewer supports for students which may impact student achievement and success in high school and beyond
• Experience ongoing uncertainty of the quality of its schools which  may weaken confidence in the District and the community

The 2025-26 mill rate was $6.34.  If the referendum is passed in April, the estimated Mill Rate would be $6.75, an increase of $0.41.

“Shall the Glendale-River Hills School District, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $5,000,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses to maintain district programs?”

A vote of “yes” will approve $5 million per year for 4 years. 

A vote of “no” will not approve $ 5million per year for 4 years. 

Visit: My Vote Wisconsin

Call: Toll-Free: (866) VOTE-WIS or Local: (608) 266-8005

Glendale Voter Information: City of Glendale Election Information 

River Hills Voter Information: Village of River Hills Election Information

or Call:414-352-8213

If the referendum passes

• Class sizes and teacher-to-student ratios will remain the same
• Critical reading and math intervention will resume
• Talent development programs and opportunities will be preserved
• Tech Ed, STEAM, music (band, orchestra, choir), and world language courses at Glen Hills Middle School will continue
• Student support services (counselors, psychologists, social worker) will be maintained
• Compensation and benefits will remain competitive to attract and retain highly qualified staff
• Ongoing building and grounds maintenance can be addressed
• Curriculum materials and instructional technology will remain current

Passing the referendum allows the District to maintain programs and staffing while engaging the community in thoughtful long-term facility planning.

• Years of deferred maintenance have created growing repair and replacement needs across District buildings. Delaying maintenance increases costs over time.
• Community feedback shows a desire for facilities that better support modern learning and student services.
• Enrollment is projected to remain stable, allowing the District to maintain class sizes while planning carefully for future facility needs.
• The District is maintaining all buildings, including Good Hope, to preserve community options.
• The operating referendum does not decide facility changes or property sales.
• After the April election, the Board will work with the community to determine future building investments and consider options for all district properties as part of long-range planning to reduce operational and maximize the community investment.
   

If the referendum fails:

• 25% reduction in the overall school budget
• Reducing  staff positions which will result in:
  • Increased class sizes at Parkway and Glen Hills
  • Reduced student supports, including intervention and mental health services
  • Reductions or elimination of  Music, Tech Ed, Art, STEAM, World Language, and Talent Development programming at Glen Hills
• Fewer curriculum resources to remain current and competitive with neighboring districts
• Increased school fees for families
• Further deferral of building maintenance, increasing long-term costs