On April 1, 2025, residents within the Lake Country School District boundaries will vote whether or not to allow the District to exceed the revenue limit by $800,000 per year for the next five years to fund operational expenses to help us balance the budget and rebuild our fund balance in order to maintain the level of excellence in academic programming, staff, and resources that have defined LCS for decades. 

Ballot Question

BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of the Lake Country School District, Waukesha 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 $800,000 per year for five years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses, including but not limited to maintaining curriculum programs, services, and rebuilding of the fund balance.

Why Referendum?

Last April, the Lake Country community was asked two questions on the election ballot: one for the purpose of updating our facilities and improving our learning environments; and the other to fund operating costs, balance our budget, replenish our fund balance, and maintain the high level of programming you’ve come to expect from Lake Country School District. We are extremely grateful to our entire community for investing in our buildings and infrastructure to continue to serve our students for years to come. Because the operational referendum did not pass, however, our district is still lacking the funds needed to effectively operate.

While we have taken significant steps to balance our budget, including right-sizing staffing levels to match current enrollment and future projections, sunsetting post-employment benefits, and evaluating and adjusting staff benefits—resulting in more than $800,000 in annual savings—these changes have not been enough to close the funding gap caused by state funding shortfalls and inflation.

This is why we are coming back to our community with another ask. While we will continue to work diligently to manage costs efficiently, without this referendum, we face serious financial challenges, including further staff and programming reductions and fewer extracurricular opportunities. The April 1 referendum is about preserving the high-quality education that has defined Lake Country School for generations.