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School debt repayment should be a priority, not deferred | Opinion

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School debt repayment should be a priority, not deferred | Opinion



Debt is not inherently irresponsible. Schools need safe, functional facilities. But when debt becomes permanent, it stops being a tool and starts being a constraint.

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Each year, Wisconsin property taxpayers contribute more than $6.5 billion in local school levies. Those dollars are commonly understood to support classrooms, teachers and student services. In reality, a large — and growing — portion is diverted to debt service, a non-negotiable financial obligation before a single classroom dollar is spent.

In fact, the debt-service share of the local levy continues to grow, not because students are receiving more, but because past borrowing decisions increasingly dictate today’s budgets. Fortunately, at least one school district is showing that a debt free future is possible.

Statewide, nearly 18% of all local school levies — about $1.18 billion each year — are used to service debt. In practical terms, almost one out of every five local school tax dollars is unavailable for instruction or student support because it has already been committed elsewhere. Unfortunately, long-term debt has become a routine feature of school finance rather than an exception.

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Looking at debt on a per-student basis makes the impact clearer. Across Wisconsin, districts levy an average of $1,483 per student each year simply to service existing debt. In districts that carry any debt at all — roughly 85% of districts statewide —that figure rises to $1,550 per student, before any money is spent in a classroom.

At the same time, Wisconsin is experiencing sustained enrollment decline, and while per-pupil revenue limits may decline with enrollment, existing district debt does not shrink when enrollment falls. The obligation stays fixed, and the burden shifts. Even if no new debt is added, fewer students are left to carry the same costs.

Over a ten-year period, a 1.5% statewide enrollment decline — far slower than the actual current rate of decline — would result in a 16% increase in per-student burden without a single new referendum, project, or improvement.

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Debt-free school districts are rare

Against that backdrop, debt-free districts have become rare — especially among larger systems. Among the 100 largest school districts in Wisconsin, only four operate without any debt service levies. When the Waukesha School District retires its final obligations on April 1, 2026, it will be the largest debt-free school district in the state — by a lot.

Serving 10,600 students, Waukesha will be more than 6,000 students larger than the next-largest debt-free district. The next few —Tomah (67th), followed by Merrill Area (92nd) and Arrowhead (98th) — sit near the bottom of the top-100 by enrollment or just beyond it. No other district operating at Waukesha’s scale is debt-free.

That matters. It shows that operating without long-term debt is not a function of being small or rural. It is a function of choices: how projects are scoped, how debt is structured and whether repayment is treated as a priority rather than deferred indefinitely.

Homeowners shocked by schools’ part of tax bills

While many homeowners have been shocked to see the school portions of their property tax bills increase exponentially in recent years, Waukesha’s has declined, on average, with fluctuations that reflect the year-to-year complexity of the funding formula.

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The school tax levy increased by 2.25% this past year because of shifts in state aid allocation beyond the district’s control, including millions more going to Milwaukee for passing it’s own massive referendum. While the board could have taken steps to keep the levy flat, instead, they followed through to retire debt and recognized a 26% savings on total borrowing costs ($1.5M less than the anticipated $6 million 10-year repayment).

Meanwhile, referenda themselves have become routine. Last year, dozens of operating and capital referenda passed across Wisconsin. This spring’s ballot again includes districts seeking additional authority — often not for discrete, time-limited projects, but to cover ongoing maintenance, capital costs, or basic operations. Increasingly, districts are asking voters for more money simply to operate. Over the past three election cycles (spring 2024-spring 2025), Wisconsin districts have placed $3.8 billion in operating and capital borrowing referendum requests on local ballots.

There are consequences to this approach. When districts rely on recurring referenda and long-term debt to sustain basic functions, strategic consolidation and shared-service models become far more difficult. Few communities are willing to absorb another district’s long-term debt, particularly when those obligations were incurred under different assumptions and governance.

Debt is not inherently irresponsible. Schools need safe, functional facilities. But when debt becomes permanent, it stops being a tool and starts being a constraint. And when nearly one-fifth of all local school taxes are treated as a non-negotiable obligation before student and classroom needs are even considered, flexibility disappears.

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Fiscal discipline is not measured by how easily costs are added. It is measured by whether leaders are willing — and able — to start paying them off.

Will Flanders is the Research Director for the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.



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Chilly Start To Easter but at least it is drying out in SE Wisconsin

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Chilly Start To Easter but at least it is drying out in SE Wisconsin


Chilly Start To Easter but at least it is drying out in SE Wisconsin

After a very wet start to the month, we are finally drying out in SE Wisconsin

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WE POSTED IT UNDER THE LINKS TAB ON THE 12 NEWS APP, AND YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO DRESS WARMLY IF YOU’RE HEADED TO BRUNCH TOMORROW. CHURCH, YOU MIGHT NEED A JACKET. >> YEAH, WIND CHILLS ARE GOING TO BE IN THE 20S, SO IT’S NOT EXACTLY GOING TO BE WARM. IT GETS A LITTLE BIT BETTER AS THE DAY GOES ON, AND WE WILL GET SOME SUN TOMORROW. MORE THAN WHAT WE’VE HAD FOR TODAY. NOW SOME OF YOU GETTING A LITTLE GLIMPSE HERE AND THERE. THE SUN, IT HASN’T LASTED VERY LONG. BUT THE GOOD THING IS IT’S A DRY DAY. BUT THE CROWD. IF YOU’RE TRYING TO DO EASTER EGG HUNTS OUTSIDE, IT IS MUDDY, MUSHY. TAKE IT FROM A GUY WHO PLAYED GOLF TODAY. IT WAS VERY, VERY WET, COOLER, MORE SUNSHINE. AS THE DAY GOES ON, WHICH IS NICE. WE’LL GET MORE SUN, BUT WE’RE DRY ALL DAY. TEMPERATURES WARM UP TO AROUND 50. ALL RIGHT, LET’S TALK ABOUT NEXT WEEK. MAINLY DRY UNTIL WEDNESDAY. CHILLY THROUGH TUESDAY, ESPECIALLY MONDAY AND TUESDAY. TUESDAY ESPECIALLY HIGHS ONLY IN THE 30S. THAT’S NOT GOING TO BE VERY NICE. SHOWERS LIKELY. WEDNESDAY. THURSDAY. FRIDAY. SATURDAY. WE DON’T NEED THE RAIN BUT WE HAVE MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST. WHEN I SAY WE DON’T NEED RAIN, THIS IS WHAT I MEAN. FOR THE MONTH, WE’VE ONLY HAD FOUR DAYS AND WE’VE HAD 3.5IN OF RAIN. WE ARE WAY ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE MONTH AND THAT HAS MADE US A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE YEAR. AND IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LAST FOUR DAYS WHEN YOU PICKED UP SO MUCH RAIN. IT’S JUST BEEN ROUND AFTER ROUND. AND YES, MORE RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST AS WE HEAD INTO THE MIDDLE AND LATTER PARTS OF NEXT WEEK. CHECK OUT THE SATELLITE MAP. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE CENTER OF LOW PRESSURE MOVING RIGHT OVER MINNEAPOLIS RIGHT NOW. THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BRING THESE CLOUDS AROUND, BUT THERE’S GOING TO BE MORE BREAKS AS TIME GOES ON. I THINK TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE A DECENT DAY. THERE ARE A FEW. WOULDN’T BE SURPRISED TO SEE A COUPLE LITTLE PASSING FLURRIES. AND THEN FOR TOMORROW MIGHT GET AN ISOLATED SPRINKLE LATER IN THE DAY. BUT IT’S IT’S NOT BAD. STILL WINDY THOUGH. NOT AS WINDY AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT WITH THESE PASSING FLURRIES. THIS IS MONDAY AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH MONDAY. IT’S THE SAME KIND OF STORY. IT’S NOT COMPLETELY SUNNY. IT’S NOT COMPLETELY CLOUDY. AGAIN, POSSIBLY SEEING A TINY FLURRY OR TWO. NOW NEXT WEEK, AS WE WORK OUR WAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, THAT’S WHEN THESE ROUNDS OF SHOWERS WILL BE COMING IN. OVERALL, YES, A SOGGY FORECAST STARTING ON WEDNESDAY. WE’RE NOT GOING TO RAIN THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT IT’S GOING TO BE ROUNDS OF RAIN. AND AGAIN, WE DON’T REALLY NEED IT LIVE. LOOK OUTSIDE. THAT. IT’S ACTUALLY PRETTY 43 DEGREES IN WAUKESHA AND WIND CHILLS ARE HANGING OUT AROUND. FREEZING. WON’T BE LONG. THEY’LL BE CARS BACK ON THE TRACKS. THERE WILL BE TONS OF PEOPLE ENJOYING ROAD AMERICA AND IT WON’T BE LONG. WE’LL SEE A LOT OF BOATS OUT HERE ON DELAVAN LAKE. TEMPERATURE 45 DEGREES. RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE THAT COOL AIR AND IT’S NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE. IT’S COOL AROUND HERE. RIGHT NOW, 46 IN MILWAUKEE IS THE WARMEST TEMP, 51 FOR TOMORROW. IT’S ABOUT EXACTLY NORMAL. BUT AGAIN, THE MORNING IS GOING TO BE CHILLY FOR SURE. MONDAY 46 ELECTION DAY A HIGH OF ONLY 38. BUT IT’S DRY AND THEN RAIN SHOWERS WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY. SATURDAY. GREAT.

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Chilly Start To Easter but at least it is drying out in SE Wisconsin

After a very wet start to the month, we are finally drying out in SE Wisconsin

Updated: 5:57 PM CDT Apr 4, 2026

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After a very wet start to the month, we are finally drying out in SE Wisconsin

After a very wet start to the month, we are finally drying out in SE Wisconsin

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AMBER ALERT: Police say eight-year-old Wisconsin girl is missing

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AMBER ALERT: Police say eight-year-old Wisconsin girl is missing


Police believe she is in a vehicle last seen driving Friday afternoon in Monroe County.

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AMBER ALERT: Police say eight-year-old Wisconsin girl is missing

Police believe she is in a vehicle last seen driving Friday afternoon in Monroe County.

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Updated: 6:01 AM CDT Apr 4, 2026

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An AMBER Alert is out for a Wisconsin girl.Police say eight-year-old Irene Lentz from Wautoma may be with Joseph Nicpon Jr. and Betty Lentz.Authorities believe Irene is in a 2005 Blue Buick Terraza with the license plate number BCU3028. Police say the vehicle was last seen at approximately 12:55 p.m. Friday driving westbound on I-90 in Monroe County near Sparta.If anybody knows where Irene may be, they are asked to immediately call the Wautoma Police Department at (920) 787-3321.

An AMBER Alert is out for a Wisconsin girl.

Police say eight-year-old Irene Lentz from Wautoma may be with Joseph Nicpon Jr. and Betty Lentz.

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Wisconsin Crime Network

Police believe Irene Lentz is in this 2005 Blue Buick Terraza with the license plate number BCU3028. Authorities say the vehicle was last seen at approximately 12:55 p.m. Friday driving westbound on I-90 in Monroe County near Sparta.

Authorities believe Irene is in a 2005 Blue Buick Terraza with the license plate number BCU3028. Police say the vehicle was last seen at approximately 12:55 p.m. Friday driving westbound on I-90 in Monroe County near Sparta.

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If anybody knows where Irene may be, they are asked to immediately call the Wautoma Police Department at (920) 787-3321.

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Storms Friday night but a dry weekend ahead in SE Wisconsin

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Storms Friday night but a dry weekend ahead in SE Wisconsin


Storms Friday night but a dry weekend ahead in SE Wisconsin

More storms are likely Friday night before our weather quiets down for Easter weekend in SE Wisconsin

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RIGHT AFTER WORLD NEWS WITH DAVID MUIR AT 530. THANK YOU DIANA. SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE MOVING IN, BUT IT WILL NOT BE A REPEAT OF LAST NIGHT. THAT’S GOOD NEWS, MARK. THE CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER IS VERY LOW. IT IS VERY GOOD BECAUSE NO, I WOULDN’T WANT TO HAVE A REPEAT OF LAST NIGHT. THANKFULLY, WE’RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. WE DO HAVE SOME SHOWERS ROLLING IN. IT’S A ROUND OF EVENING SHOWERS, BUT A LOT OF THIS IS FALLING APART. I THINK IT’S MAINLY GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF SPRINKLES BY THE TIME IT GETS TO MILWAUKEE. RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY OVERNIGHT. A COUPLE OF STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE. YES. RAIN MOVES OUT BY EARLY SATURDAY. MOST OF SATURDAY IS DRY. IT GETS BREEZY. TEMPERATURES. NOT BAD THOUGH. WE’LL MAKE IT INTO THE MID 50S. ALL RIGHT. FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT YOUR SEVERE THREAT LEVEL ONE AGAIN. LAST NIGHT WE ARE LEVEL THREE ON THE SEVERE THREAT INDEX. WE’RE NOT THERE. ANY KIND OF THREAT WOULD BE HAIL. THAT’S THAT’S OUR ONLY WORRY. I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT TORNADOES. ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO A LOW CHANCE OF SOME HAIL. ANY OF THE THREATS ARE VERY LOW. VERY LOW THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS THAT SHOULD STAY WAY SOUTH. VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY LOW THREAT OF TORNADOES. I’M ALWAYS SCARED TO PUT ZERO THREAT OF TORNADOES, BUT IT’S CLOSE TO ZERO FLOODING. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE ARE WATERLOGGED. AND SO IT’S NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT MUCH RAIN. WE COULD GET UP TO AN INCH OF RAIN AND THAT WOULD CAUSE SOME ISSUES. NOTICE HOW THIS CONTINUES TO FALL APART. IT’S A STEADY RAIN THOUGH IN WESTERN WAUKESHA COUNTY. IT’S STARTING TO MOVE INTO THE CITY OF WAUKESHA AND INTO PEWAUKEE AS WELL. THUNDERSTORMS BACK OUT TO THE WEST OF US. THE SEVERE THREAT REALLY, I THINK IS WELL, SOUTH. THAT’S WHERE THE WARMER AIR IS LOCATED. IT’S NOT HERE. SO AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, THAT MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, WE BRING IN SHOWERS AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS, MAYBE A LITTLE SMALL HAIL IN THERE AS WELL. THE COLDER AIR STARTS WRAPPING BACK IN AS WE HEAD INTO SATURDAY NIGHT. MAYBE EVEN ENOUGH TO GET A PASSING FLURRY JUST IN TIME FOR EASTER MORNING. BUT THAT’S NOT GOING TO LAST LONG. EASTER IS OKAY. I WOULDN’T SAY IT’S GREAT, BUT IT’S ALL RIGHT. IT’S 49 DEGREES, A FEW SPRINKLES EARLY, EARLY, EARLY ON SATURDAY. IT’S GONE BY 8:00 AT THE LATEST. THE REST OF THE DAY IS FINE. HOW ABOUT EASTER? WELL, WE START OUT PRETTY CHILLY, 33 AT 7 A.M. IF YOU’RE GOING TO DO EASTER EGG HUNTS. ONE. IF IT’S OUTSIDE, YOU BETTER DRESS FOR IT AND ALSO BE READY FOR THE MUDDY BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE WET. WE’RE WET ALL OVER, BUT WE’RE GREENING THINGS UP PRETTY QUICKLY HERE, THANKS TO THE FACT THAT WE’VE HAD ALL THAT RAIN YESTERDAY. 1.8IN OF RAIN IN MILWAUKEE 39 RIGHT NOW IN ELKHART LAKE, 46 DEGREES IN DELAVAN, WHERE YOU’VE HAD A PASSING SHOWER, BUT THAT HAS MOVED ON. NOT EXACTLY SEEING ANYTHING WARM UNLESS YOU GO HERE 81 DEGREES DOWN IN SAINT LOUIS. YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHERE THE FRONT IS LOCATED. ALL RIGHT, EARLY SPRINKLES. A BREEZY DAY FOR TOMORROW. MOST OF THE DAY IS DRY, AND I DO THINK WE’LL SEE SOME SUNSHINE OFF. AND ON EASTER SUNDAY DRY, WHICH IS NICE. 49 IT’S KIND OF NICE BECAUSE MOST OF THE STRETCH AFTER WE GET THROUGH TONIGHT IS QUIET. MONDAY AND TUESDAY ARE QUIET. TUESDAY, OF COURSE, IS ELECTION DAY HIGH OF ONLY 38. SO DRESS WARMLY HEADING TO THE POLLS AND THEN WE WARM RIGHT BACK UP IN THE 50S. CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AS WE HEAD INTO THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. IT’S OKAY.

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Storms Friday night but a dry weekend ahead in SE Wisconsin

More storms are likely Friday night before our weather quiets down for Easter weekend in SE Wisconsin

Updated: 6:30 PM CDT Apr 3, 2026

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More storms are likely Friday night before our weather quiets down for Easter weekend in SE Wisconsin

More storms are likely Friday night before our weather quiets down for Easter weekend in SE Wisconsin

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