Pre-Referendum Information and Resources

Question 1 Ballot Language

Shall the Howard-Suamico School District, Brown County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $2,000,000 per year for the 2026-2027 school year and the 2027-2028 school year and by $7,000,000 per year for the 2028-2029 school year through the 2032-2033 school year for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses to maintain class sizes and educational programs, and to address staff compensation.

Question 2 Ballot Language

Shall the Howard-Suamico School District, Brown County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $147,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and facility improvement project consisting of: construction of an addition, renovations, capital maintenance, and site improvements at Bay Port High School, including expansion of the career and technical education space, renovations to classrooms and science labs, and improvements to safety, traffic flow, and parking; construction of additions, renovations, capital maintenance, and site improvements at Howard, Meadowbrook, Suamico, and Lineville Schools; capital maintenance at Bay Harbor School; and district-wide capital maintenance and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures, and equipment?

HSSD has prioritized smaller class sizes across the district. The community provided support for this priority through additional dollars in a 2018 operational referendum and again in 2021 with a renewed operational referendum. 

The chart below highlights HSSD's priority to maintain small and effective class sizes across the district. A renewal of the operational referendum on April 7, 2026 will support this continued priority.  

2025 Studies

Since April 7, 2025 when the Board endorsed HSSD to proceed with a pre-referendum exploration process, three independent assessments were completed. This data was shared with the Board at the June 9 and August 11 Board meetings.

• Facilities Assessment (by EUA, 2025)
• Enrollment Projections (by Woolpert)
• Student Potential Report (by Woolpert)

The reason HSSD engaged another independent company to complete additional enrollment projections is to have up-to-date data that is as accurate as possible during this pre-referendum exploration process. 

2022 Studies

Prior to this, in 2022, an enrollment projection study and community growth study were completed by MD Roffers. 

• Community Growth Study (by MD Roffers, 2022)
• Enrollment Projections (by MD Roffers, 2022)

Debt Savings

The HSSD Board of Education has been financial stewards of taxpayer dollars in many ways, one of which is by prepaying debt. This has saved the district $5,985,240 since 2018. 

• The 2021 referendum is the only debt the district is carrying. Originally $98,000,000 was issued, and as of February 2026, we will have $55,905,000 outstanding. 
• The 2021 referendum debt was originally scheduled to be repaid through 2041, but due to this strategic prepayment, it will now be paid off in 2038.

Click here to view the 2025-26 Budget Book. See page 36 for the debt repayment schedule for existing debt. 

Property Tax Dollar Breakdown 2025-26 vs. 2026-27

If the referendum is successful on April 7, the tax rate will remain the same. What will change is how HSSD spends its tax dollars. As you see below, the debt service portion will decrease and the operational referendum portion will increase, while the other components of the levy will remain consistent. 

The HSSD Board and administration does not have the authority to change how these tax dollars are spent. The district is legally required to ask for permission from the community to make this change. This permission must be granted in the form of a referendum. 

How Can We Borrow Funds Without Raising the Tax Rate? 

How can the district advance both referendum questions without raising the overall school district tax rate?

Over the last five years, the Board has made strategic financial decisions to reduce the tax rate five times. The district has also been paying off its existing debt faster than planned, saving nearly $6 million in interest.

Think of this as a mortgage and home equity loan: you have been paying extra towards your original mortgage each month so that you can pay it off faster and save money on interest. Then you need a major repair, like a new roof, so you take out a home equity loan. Instead of increasing your monthly payments, you shift the extra money you were putting toward your mortgage to pay off the home equity loan. Your monthly payment stays the same.

HSSD is in a similar situation. As old debt is paid off, space opens up within the existing $7.69 tax rate. That space can be used to fund additional improvements without raising the overall tax rate. At the same time, the operational referendum maintains class sizes, programs, and staff compensation. These day-to-day needs cannot be paid for through borrowing but are essential for student learning.

Above is a chart that shows how the HSSD debt service decreases and operational referendum spending increases if the referendum is successful in April.

Click Here For the faq

Thank you for your questions and feedback thus far in this process! You have informed the pre-referendum FAQ. If you have further questions, please email website@hssdschools.org and we will route your question to the appropriate content expert. 

Special Mailing (March 2026)

The Referendum Newsletter Mailing landed in mailboxes mid-March. Click here to view the digital version of the newsletter. 

Fact Sheet (created in January 2026)

• The fact sheet below was created by HSSD and is available at Public Information Sessions. To view the fact sheet digitally, click here or see below.

Referendum Information Session Presentation (March 2026)

Highlights

• 1,758 residents participated in the survey
  • This is the highest rate of participation we've experienced in a pre-referendum survey. Thank you for participating! 
• 60.5% indicated support for an operational referendum 
  • $7 million for 7 years
  • Where would the money go? Maintain smaller class sizes, staff compensation, and continuing current programs and services
• 64.1% indicated support for a facilities referendum
  • $147 million with no tax rate increase
  • Support drops nearly 20% if the tax rate increases by $0.36
  • Zero tax rate increase is critical for community support

View the Board Presentation from November 17, 2025. 

Tax Rate Neutral Plan

Both the proposed $7M operational referendum and $147M facilities referendum can be completed without increasing the school district tax rate.

Community survey results show strong support for a tax rate neutral plan. The Board of Education has taken this feedback seriously and has continuously reduced the tax rate while continuing to address operational and facilities needs. 

If property values rise, some may still see an increase in their tax bill. That’s why HSSD has been intentional about lowering the school tax rate year after year - to help offset that impact and keep the cost to homeowners as manageable as possible, while still addressing operational and facilities needs.

Board Decreases Tax Rate 5 Years in a Row

As shown below, the Board has reduced the tax rate for five years in a row. Today it is $7.69 per $1,000 of equalized property value compared to $9.19 in 2020. In 2020, the tax rate was $9.19 and today it is $7.69.

Learn More

To learn more about HSSD finance, visit the Finance page.