The Albany Community has a rich tradition of providing excellent educational opportunities for its students. From academics to the arts and athletics, our students are challenged to become their very best.

The Albany School District is pursuing a three-year non-recurring operational referendum. After reviewing several fiscal models and examining the impact on local property taxes, budgetary surplus/deficit, and fund balance the Albany Board of Education has approved an operational referendum of $1.25 million each of the next three years for a total of $3.75 million.

If approved in November, this funding would allow the District to continue providing our students and families with the outstanding services and opportunities we currently appreciate. An operating referendum pays for utilities, routine maintenance, insurance, supplies, and staff compensation.

Regardless of the outcome, I want to thank the Albany Community for supporting our efforts to prepare our students to compete in a highly competitive world.

The Albany School District is 'Doing something BIG in a special little place'.

Why an Operating Referendum?

• Unfortunately, the District finds itself in the same position as many other districts due to a lack of state funding, inadequate reimbursement for federally mandated programs, and elimination of federal funds provided during the COVID era.

• Increasing costs of inflation have outpaced revenue in recent years. School district per-pupil revenue caps have lagged inflation by about $3,200 per student since 2009.

• Our school district’s per-pupil revenue caps have lagged inflation by about $2,302 per student since 2012-13. This trend equates to $925,404 in lost revenue this year alone for our district.

• Budget deficit without a referendum

  • 2024-2025: $850,000 deficit

  • 2025-2026: $950,000 deficit

  • 2026-2027: $1,000,000 deficit

What costs will the referendum cover?

• The referendum will NOT be for new facilities or any construction-related costs. An operational referendum covers regular operating costs within a district including programs, general maintenance, and compensation. It will help us remain competitive, deliver high-quality services, and provide the community with a District they can be proud of.

  • Maintain Services and Opportunities

  • Fund Facilities and Maintenance

  • Preserve Current Staffing Levels

Albany School District has been a good steward of the resources provided by operating within the revenue provided. Keeping our expenditures inside our revenues has allowed the District to remain financially healthy for extended periods. Unfortunately, the lack of state and federal funding, and inflationary factors have placed increasing demands on school districts across Wisconsin.

Fund balance represents the fund's total assets minus its liabilities (what a fund owns minus what it owes). A "fund balance" is created or increased when fund revenues exceed fund expenditures for a fiscal period. A fund balance of 15-18% is considered healthy and indicates stability within the District. Albany School District has prioritized the fund balance and worked hard to develop a strong fund balance since 2018. This referendum will help us maintain the fund balance necessary to reduce risk and plan for long-range goals.

Without the referendum, our fund balance will need to be used for operating expenses. The chart below shows the difference between the referendum passing (green line) and not passing (red line).