Adopted Referendum Resolution

Board-Adopted Two-Year, Non-Recurring Operating Referendum - April 7, 2026

Resolution Supporting Inclusion in the District's Budget of Amounts Exceeding the State Revenue Limits Beginning with the 2026-2027 School Year Through the 2027-2028 School Year for Non-Recurring Purposes and Submitting that Question to the Electors of the District in a Referendum Election

WHEREAS, the School Board of the Hustisford School District, Dodge County, Wisconsin (the "District"), has determined that a need exists for the District's budget to exceed the revenue limits for the 2026-2027 through the 2027-2028 school years as set forth in Section 12l.91(2m), Wis. Stats.; and 

WHEREAS, the School Boatd supports inclusion in the final District budgets of the following amounts: 2026-2027 ($1.87 5 million); 2027-2028 ($1.87 5 million)- in excess of the revenue limits set forth in Section 121.91 (2m), Wis. Stats., such excess to be used for non-recurring purposes consisting of funding operational expenses and current educational programs, addressing the structural deficit, and maintaining facilities while the District explores reorganization options; and 

WHEREAS, the School Board has determined to submit the question of the inclusion of proposed excess revenue in the District's budget directly to the District's electors in a referendum election. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of the District as follows: 

Section 1. Exceeding Statutory Revenue Limits. The School Board hereby supports the inclusion in the final District budgets of the following amounts: 2026-2027 ($1.875 million); 2027-2028 ($1.875 million)- in excess of the revenue limits set forth in Section 121.91 (2m), Wis. Stats., such excess to be used for non-recurring purposes consisting of funding operational expenses and current educational programs, addressing the structural deficit, and maintaining facilities while the District explores reorganization options. 

Section 2. Referendum Election Date. The District Clerk is hereby directed to call a referendum election to be held in the District at the regularly scheduled election occurring on April 7, 2026, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of the District the question of whether the District's annual budget may exceed revenue limits for non-recurring purposes consisting of funding operational expenses_ and current educational programs, addressing the structural deficit, and maintaining facilities while the District explores reorganization options, under Section 121.91 (2m), Wis. Stats., by the amounts of 2026-2027 ($1.875 million); 2027-2028 ($1.875 million). 

Section -3. Notices to Electors. The Watertown Daily Times is the official newspaper of the District with daily publication Monday through Friday. The District Clerk or designee is directed to provide notice of the referendum election as follows:

1. By publishing a Type A Notice of Referendum Election in the Watertown Daily Times on the 4th Tuesday prior to the referendum election. (See Exhibit 1, below.)
2. By publishing a Type B Notice, which includes a facsimile ballot and voting instructions to electors, in the Watertown Daily Times on the Monday immediately preceding the referendum election. (See Exhibit 2, below.)
3. By publishing a Type C Notice of Referendum Election in the Watertown Daily Times on the Monday immediatelypreceding the referendum election. This notice should be printed as close as possible to the ballot portion of the Type B Notice discussed above. (See Exhibit 2, below.)
4. By publishing, or collaborating with the appropriate municipal clerk(s) in publishing, a Type D Notice stating the hours the polls will be open and identifying the polling places, in the Watertown Daily Times on the Monday immediately preceding the referendum election. This notice should be printed as close as possible to the ballot portion of the Type B Notice discussed above.
5. By publishing, or collaborating with the appropriate municipal clerk(s) in publishing, a Type E Notice setting forth absentee voting procedures in the Watertown Daily Times on the 4th Tuesday prior to the referendum election.

If any of the municipalities within the District use an electronic voting system employing a ballot label and ballot card, the Type C Notice described above shall also include a true, actual-size copy of the ballot label and ballot card in the form in which they will appear on election day. 

Section 4. Polling Places and Hours. The District electors must vote at the referendum election at the times and polling places at which they cast their ballots in regularly scheduled elections. 

Section 5. Referendum Election Officials. The election officials appointed in each of the municipalities within the District shall conduct the election. 

Section 6. Official Referendum Ballot Form. The ballot to be used at the referendum election shall be prepared in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.64(2) and 7,08(1)(a), Wisconsin Statutes. 

The District Clerk shall cause, or shall collaborate with the appropriate municipal clerk(s) to cause, sufficient ballots to be printed for use at said referendum election, both as actual ballots in those polling places which do not use voting machines and as absentee ballots where voting machines are used and as specimen ballots (the latter to be of a different and easily identifiable color from the actual ballot). The form of the ballot shall be filed with the official responsible for providing the ballots for the election􀀼 and the District Clerk shall file a copy of the ballot with the clerk of each county having territory within the District, as soon as possible after the date hereof but in no event later than 70 days prior to the election, as provided in Section 8.3 7, Wisconsin Statutes. If the District prepares the ballots, said ballots should be delivered to the municipal clerks running the election at least 52 days prior to the election, to allow the municipal clerks to comply with their obligation to provide absentee ballots under Section 7.15, Wisconsin Statutes. 

The municipal clerks of the municipalities within the District shall receive applications for absentee ballots and initial the same when issued to qualified absentee voters. 

Section 7. Canvass. The returns of the referendum election shall be canvassed by the Board of Canvassers of each municipality within the District. Each Board of Canvassers shall certify the returns of the referendum election to the District Clerk. The District Clerk and two other reputable citizens appointed by the District Clerk prior to the date of the referendum election shall act as the District's Board of Canvassers for this referendum election. This Board of Canvassers shall meet in open session no later than 9:00 a.m. on the Tuesday after the election to determine the result of the referendum election. The canvass shall be open to the public, and the District Clerk is directed to give proper notice of said meeting.

Section 8. DPI Notice. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 121.191(3)(a)1., Wisconsin Statutes, the District Clerk shall notify the Department of Public Instruction of the date of the referendum election and shall provide the Department with copies of the Resolution within 10 days after the adoption of the Resolution and shall further notify the Department of the results of the referendum within 10 days following the election using the method prescribed by the Department.

Adopted and recorded January 19, 2026.