CONNECTING THE ELMBROOK SCHOOLS COMMUNITY
September 2026
REFERENDUM 2026
$100 MILLION CAPITAL (FACILITY) REFERENDUM
Dear Elmbrook Community Members,
PILGRIM PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL
On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you for your ongoing partnership in supporting our students and schools. To ensure our learning environments keep pace with our students' needs, the Board completed a months-long infrastructure analysis to establish a 20-Year Facilities Plan, summarized on page 2.
COST ESTIMATE: $50,368,000
This plan reflects our commitment to annual maintenance and repairs. However, the major capital investments needed across aging school facilities simply exceed what can be funded through annual operating revenues. The Board takes our role as stewards of your tax dollars and community facilities seriously, and we encourage you to learn about the proposed referendum before casting your vote on November 3rd.
Sincerely,
Built in 1958
• Update to current ADA accessibility standards • Expand gym to a middle school-standard, two-court facility • Update art, woodshop and robotics classrooms
TONAWANDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Built in 1969
COST ESTIMATE: $33,717,000 • Replace open-concept classroom layout for focus and safety • Expand classrooms to District standards • Create academic support spaces • Add two classrooms for future flexibility
SWANSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Built in 1960
COST ESTIMATE: $9,526,000 • Redesign academic support spaces • Remodel library and large learning spaces • Light renovation in all classrooms (ceiling, lighting, paint, flooring)
WISCONSIN HILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL Built in 1969
COST ESTIMATE: $6,389,000 • Update art, woodshop and robotics classrooms • Update music area to current ADA accessibility standards • Remodel cafeteria for instruction and community use
R
EF
NO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE SINCE 2008
OTE
NOV 3 ER
ENDUM
26
A LEGACY OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
OOK SCHO O BR M
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EL
Scott Wheeler President, Elmbrook Board of Education
20
For nearly 20 years, the Board of Education has followed a disciplined financial strategy designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of our schools.
$100 MILLION INVESTED IN OUR FACILITIES SINCE 2008
Aaa RATING MAINTAINED MOODY’S HIGHEST POSSIBLE CREDIT RATING
$3 MILLION SAVED IN INTEREST COST OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS
18 YEARS
NO ADDITIONAL REFERENDUM SUPPORT REQUESTED
Our long-term Plan is structured into three phases, segmented by community engagement and financial strategies. A Phase 1 referendum would allow the District to leverage annual operating funds and savings for improvements across all schools. Phase 3 includes community engagement to consider the needs of the District’s oldest facilities. PHASE 2 (2032-2041)
• Pursue capital referendum for four priority schools
ER
ENDUM
20
PHASE 3 (2042-2046)
• Use annual budget for maintenance and athletic facility updates
• Use annual budget for maintenance, repairs, ADA improvements, and classroom modernization
R
PHASE 1 (2027-2031)
EF
OTE
NOV 3
26
20-YEAR FACILITIES PLAN
OOK SCHO O BR M
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REFERENDUM 2026
• Use annual budget for planned maintenance • Complete comprehensive facility assessment
• Focus on modernizing classroom environments
• Develop a strategic vision for aging facilities
A DUAL-INVESTMENT APPROACH While the referendum targets improvements at four schools, our financial strategy relies on a dual-investment approach to ensure all District facilities are supported.
$100 MILLION
$90 MILLION
FOUR PRIORITY SCHOOLS
ALL DISTRICT FACILITIES
The $100 million capital referendum would fund large-scale renovations at four priority schools that exceed the capacity of the annual operating budget.
The District plans to allocate $90 million from future annual operating budgets and savings over the next 15 years to support ongoing needs across all District facilities.
CAPITAL REFERENDUM
OPERATING BUDGET
AGING FACILITIES
LEARNING SPACES
ACCESSIBILITY
ONGOING MAINTENANCE
SAFETY
TECHNOLOGY
Address critical infrastructure needs
Renovate classrooms and support spaces
Improve ADA accessibility
Routine facility repairs and upkeep
Safety and security refreshes
Technology updates
BUILDING WHAT’S NEXT, FOR THE STUDENTS OF TOMORROW
WHY IS A REFERENDUM BEING PROPOSED NOW? Our long-term facilities plan identified critical school building and safety updates that require capital funding beyond our annual operating budget. Aligning this referendum with the retirement of the 2008 high school debt allows us to deliver these vital facility improvements while minimizing tax rate volatility for our community.
ADDRESS CRITICAL FACILITY UPDATES AND AVOID TAX VOLATILITY
2008 DEBT EXPIRING IN 2028
PROPOSED FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
Replace retiring debt with new investment
In 2028, the debt from the 2008 high school referendum will be fully retired.
A $100 million capital referendum to fund large-scale renovations at four priority schools.
WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST OF THE REFERENDUM DEBT? Much like a home mortgage, borrowing funds incurs interest costs over the life of the loan. However, the District actively manages its debt to protect taxpayer dollars. Elmbrook previously saved taxpayers over $3 million by refinancing its 2008 referendum debt, and the Board will continue leveraging its Aaa bond rating and future refinancing opportunities to reduce the total borrowing cost.
$100 MILLION
$65.8 MILLION*
$165.8 MILLION
ESTIMATED INTEREST
TOTAL LIFETIME REPAYMENT
PRINCIPAL
*Assumes 20-year bonds with a conservative 5%-5.25% interest rate.
WHY DO SO MANY DISTRICTS PURSUE REFERENDUMS? Since 2008, state revenue limits have not kept up with inflation, forcing school districts across Wisconsin to choose between maintaining facilities, preserving programs, and retaining staff. Consequently, 93% of Wisconsin school districts have turned to capital (facility) and operational (ongoing expenses) referendums to bridge the gap.
CUMULATIVE EFFECT: GAP BETWEEN INFLATION AND REVENUES
Elmbrook’s Board of Education identified a capital referendum because necessary facility improvements exceed the capacity of the annual operating budget and District savings.
$1000
$7000 Implication: Districts cannot fund or save for large facility investments as revenue limits have not kept up with inflation.
$6000 $5000
$3,571
$4000
PER PUPIL
$3000 $2000
Actual
Indexed to CPI
2026-27
2025-26
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
2020-21
2019-20
2018-19
2017-18
2016-17
2015-16
2014-15
2013-14
2012-13
2011-12
2010-11
2009-10
2008-09
$0
Source: Legislative Fiscal Bureau
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR TAX BILL?
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MILWAUKEE, WI Permit No. 5654
3555 North Calhoun Road Brookfield, WI 53005 262.781.3030
TAX IMPACT OF A $100 MILLION CAPITAL REFERENDUM
FACILITY TOURS
Because the referendum is timed with the retirement of existing debt, the projected net mill rate impact is $0.11 per $1,000 of fair market property value. MILL RATE IMPACT The projected 2028 debt mill rate with the proposed referendum is compared to the current 2025 debt mill rate, illustrating a net increase of $0.11.
IF REFERENDUM APPROVED
$5
$.56
$6.37
$6.26
$.67
+$11
$5.70
$5.70
PER YEAR
per $100,000 of property value
OCTOBER 7 SWANSON ELEMENTARY
305 North Calhoun Rd 6PM - 7PM
OCTOBER 14 TONAWANDA ELEMENTARY OCTOBER 15 WISCONSIN HILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL
$0
2025
2028 | $100 MILLION REFERENDUM IMPACT
DISTRICT OPERATING LEVY
DEBT PAYMENT
18700 West Wisconsin Ave 6PM - 7PM
OCTOBER 20
VIRTUAL EVENT
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MY HOME? Estimated additional annual impact if a referendum is approved.
1500 Pilgrim Pkwy 6PM - 7PM
13605 Underwood River Pkwy 6PM - 7PM
+$0.11
NET MILL RATE IMPACT
PILGRIM PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL
elmbrookschools.org/ref26
$300,000
$400,000
$500,000
$600,000
+$33/year
+$44/year
+$55/year
+$66/year
OCTOBER 12 6PM - 7PM
CALCULATE YOUR ESTIMATED IMPACT & LEARN MORE Use the Tax Impact Calculator to estimate the cost based on your property’s fair market value, and find additional referendum information at elmbrookschools.org/referendum.