1. An independent firm was hired to assess facility needs, including safety, deferred maintenance, ADA compliance, and educational adequacy.

2. Develop a strategic plan that includes staff, community, leadership, and board voice.

3. Assess the financial ability of the district to meet the needs and desires of both the facility study and strategic plan.

4. Eliminated 3 full time positions as well as adjustments to programming to streamline the size of a potential referendum.

5. Propose a referendum question that bridges the gap between budget alterations already made and what is needed.

6. Educate the community about MHLT’s goals and how it plans to accomplish those goals.

Shall the Joint School District Number 1, Towns of Minocqua, Hazelhurst and Lake Tomahawk, Oneida County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $3,500,000 beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, for recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses, maintenance expenses, and debt service for capital improvements?

• Staff & Daily Operations

  • Retain and attract quality teachers and support staff to maintain smaller class sizes

  • Maintain current special education staff

  • Maintain facilities cleaning staff and services

• Top-Notch Programming

  • Maintain Tech Ed programming

  • Explore course variety for all ages and abilities

  • Expand sports and activity offerings

• Safety & Security Enhancements

  • Nurse’s office remodel for improved comfort and privacy

  • Card access improvements

  • Phone system upgrades

  • Emergency generator replacement and relocation

• Building & Infrastructure Improvements

  • HVAC upgrades

  • Electrical panel replacement

  • Technology cabling upgrades

  • Exterior door and frame replacement

  • Masonry repairs

  • Site drainage improvements

  • Exterior canopy improvements

  • High priority floor, ceiling, door and casework updates

  • Kindergarten toilet room remodel
    

INVESTING IN OUR FIREBIRD FUTURE.

In recent years reductions have been made to avoid going to referendum, however we’ve reached a point where the needs now exceed what MHLT can reasonably cut from the annual budget.

This November 3 ballot question will ask voters to approve a recurring $3.5 million referendum with an approximate tax impact of $0.66 per $1,000 of property value.

WhatWillItCostImage

• Wisconsin’s School funding formula has not kept pace with inflation, which means even maintaining the current level of services has now required going to referendum

• This is a statewide funding challenge causing MHLT and districts all across the state to seek community approval for operational referendums to increase funding

• The district has worked to reduce expenses and maximize available resources before bringing this question to voters. Cost-saving measures have included eliminating free breakfast, increasing lunch prices, reducing bus routes, and eliminating three full-time staff positions.

MHLT has not gone to referendum since 2006!

The community has consistently expressed confidence in the district’s management of funds over the past two decades. The time has come, however, when our current budget can no longer meet the needs of our students. With inconsistent state funding and declining enrollment, MHLT is turning to its community for support for the first time in 20 years. While the district will continue to seek efficiencies and manage resources responsibly, the reality is that costs continue to rise and the needs of our students and facilities will not go away.

While the district has already taken meaningful steps to reduce costs, including staff reductions, limiting bus routes, eliminating free breakfast for all students, increasing meal prices, and modifying post-employment benefits, it still faces a structural budget shortfall. Additionally, because the district lacks dedicated funding for major facility needs, costly maintenance repairs must be paid for out of the operating budget. When unexpected building or infrastructure expenses arise, resources must be diverted from classrooms, programs, and services, resulting in continued reductions elsewhere.

If the referendum does not pass, MHLT will need to:

• Make further staff reductions, ultimately increasing class sizes.

• Reduce services and program flexibility.

• Reduce course offerings and student experiences.

• Defer additional maintenance and technology upgrades.

• Charge student fees for various programs and services.

• Redirect operating funds to address critical facility repairs and maintenance needs, resulting in fewer resources available for students and educational programming.

• The public school funding model Wisconsin established in 1993 was designed to empower local voters to decide how to fund their district rather than automatically keeping pace with increasing costs through state funding and automatic tax levy increases. 

• Since then, education funding from the State Legislature has not kept pace with inflation, causing school districts across Wisconsin to navigate serious funding issues. The gap between rising costs and insufficient state funding is necessitating more districts to turn to voters to maintain operations and meet capital needs.

Election day voting is November 3, 2026.

• Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm 

For information about your polling place, voter registration, or early in-person and absentee voting please visit MyVote.wi.gov for more information.

Don’t forget to flip the ballot over to find the MHLT referendum question!

A random sample of households were selected to be interviewed by telephone. All households have an equal chance of being selected and the adult respondent in each household is also chosen randomly. Questionnaires are administered over the telephone by trained and supervised interviewers. Telephone numbers are tried at least six times during a one-week period and an additional six time a second week before another household is substituted for the original selection. Results are based upon a pre-set number of completed interviews.

There were 400 households that were called. 400 respondents provide results within ± 5.0% of the entire population 95% of time.  The random sample of households also hits all the demographics that make up the community (age, where they live, do they have kids in school, man/woman, etc.) so it shows a sample of what makes up the MHLT Schools.