(The Center Square) – For the first time in the past 10 years of polling, more Wisconsin voters said they would vote against a school referendum than for it.
Fifty-seven percent of voters said they would vote against a referendum in the new Marquette Law School poll.
That compares to 52% in June, 57% in February and 55% in January saying they would vote for a school referendum if it was proposed by a local school board.
The poll asked 846 registered voters the questions between Oct. 15-22.
“This is one to keep an eye on to see if this trend continues or it’s just a fluke of this sample,” Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin said.
The poll also showed that 56% said they believe reducing property taxes is more important than increasing spending on public schools.
That compared to 57% in June, 58% in February and 55% in January who said the same.
Historical Marquette polling showed that 50% first said they would prioritize reducing property taxes in June 2023 after years of polling showing that spending more on public schools was more important to voters.
That total has trended up since the 2023 polling.
“People have gotten more concerned about school spending and property taxes in particular,” Franklin said.
The polling comes after Milwaukee voters said they would prefer consolidating schools over another property tax referendum increase when Embold Research asked 535 likely Milwaukee voters in 2026 the questions between Oct. 6-10 on behalf of City Forward Collective and CFC Action Fund.
Legislators are currently discussing a bill that would require districts to file the required paperwork before being eligible for a referendum. That bill passed the Assembly Committee on Education on Thursday.
There also are a set of bills in the works on school consolidation.
Public school enrollment in Wisconsin is expected to decline by 10,000 students annually for the five-year period that began in 2023-24 and the trend is expected to continue.
The bill would provide a consolidation model process, funding for consolidation or shared service feasibility studies and assistance for schools as they try to match up differing levies and determine school board positions when consolidation occurs.
