Voters in the Southern Door County School District declined the proposed Operational Referendum during the gubernatorial election November 3, 2026. School board members and staff asked voters to exceed the state-set revenue limit by $2,055,000 for the next three years.
Some of the No votes - 2,424 - may have been in reaction to the 2025 property tax increase some southern Door municipalities saw after reassessment (Town of Brussels being one). The Yes votes - 2,324 - were 100 shy of granting the District additional revenue.
The district’s website says the referendum would have supported: increases in teacher and staff compensation; maintenance of school facilities; and restoration of select teaching positions.
In a statement released to the media Wednesday, Southern Door School Superintendent Dr. Kevin Krutzik wrote: "While we are disappointed in the outcome of the November 3 referendum, we respect the decision of our community members. Our commitment to our students remains our top priority, and we will now work closely with the Board of Education to determine the next steps for our District. We remain dedicated to the goal of educational excellence and will continue to seek ways to provide a high-quality environment for our staff and students despite these financial challenges."
Wisconsin statues limit school districts to two referendums in any calendar year (excepting natural diasters). Which means SDSD could ask voters for an operational override in April 2027.
