Residents of the Sturgeon Bay School District could have an extra incentive to head to the polls this November, but Superintendent Dan Tjernagel would like to hear from them first.

District officials mailed a survey last week outlining a possible operational referendum ahead of the expiration of the district's current five-year operational referendum. Voters last approved an operational referendum in 2022, which will provide the district with $3.8 million next year.

Higher costs for transportation, utilities, insurance and special education services, along with declining federal funding and state general school aid, have left the district facing a multimillion-dollar shortfall if nothing is done.

Tjernagel says the district is doing what it can to trim the budget, following a multiyear plan to reduce staffing by 15 positions, saving about $1 million annually.

In addition to a proposed referendum of $3.5 million annually for the next five years, which would keep the mill rate steady at $7.19, the Sturgeon Bay School Board is also exploring two other options. One would seek $3.75 million per year for five years to help address competitive employee wages, while the other would seek $4 million annually for five years to address both employee wages and building maintenance.

Under those two options, property taxes would increase by an estimated $12 to $24 annually for every $100,000 of assessed property value.

If you misplaced your survey or would like more information about the proposed referendum questions, you can access the information here and you will have to contact the Sturgeon Bay School District Office to receive your survey code.