On the November 3, 2026 Ballot
Two of the 11 districts have questions. The Dane County Clerk's ballot list and DPI's referendum report agree.(Dane County Clerk)(DPI) The tax estimates are the districts' own, not ours.
| District | Type | Amount | For | District's tax estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middleton-Cross Plains | Operating, non-recurring | $118.5 million over four years(DPI) | Four-year operating referendum (programs, compensation, operations); follows the 2022 non-recurring referendum that ends in 2026-27 (2027-2028: $24.9 million; 2028-2029: $27.9 million; 2029-2030: $31.1 million; 2030-2031: $34.6 million) | $44 in 2027-2028, $65 in 2028-2029, $64 in 2029-2030, $64 in 2030-2031 per $100,000 of property value(district) |
| Waunakee, Question 1 | Operating, recurring | $10.5 million a year once phased in(DPI) | Ongoing operating costs and employee compensation; phased in over four years, then $10.5 million a year permanently (2027-2028: $4.2 million; 2028-2029: $2.1 million; 2029-2030: $2.1 million; 2030-2031: $2.1 million) | about $17 a year per $100,000 of property value(district) |
| Waunakee, Question 2 | Building (bonds) | $97.5 million in bonds(DPI) | High school removal of an older section, additions and renovations; South Campus (old middle school) renovations; athletic fields; district-wide maintenance | about $25 a year per $100,000 of property value(district) |
Waunakee says both of its questions together would cost about $42 a year per $100,000 of value, or about $210 a year on a $500,000 home.(district) Middleton-Cross Plains says its first year, $24.9 million, is no increase over this school year, and the amount rises after that.(district)
Middleton-Cross Plains: ballot wording
Shall the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District, Dane County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $24,900,000 for the 2027-2028 school year, by $27,900,000 for the 2028-2029 school year, by $31,100,000 for the 2029-2030 school year and by $34,600,000 for the 2030-2031 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of expenses related to ongoing educational and extracurricular programming, and compensation, and other operational expenses?(Dane County Clerk)
Waunakee, Question 1: ballot wording
Shall the Waunakee Community School District, Dane County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $4,200,000 for the 2027-2028 school year; by an additional $2,100,000 for the 2028-2029 school year; by an additional $2,100,000 for the 2029-2030 school year; and by an additional $2,100,000 for the 2030-2031 school year (for a total of $10,500,000 and to remain at that amount thereafter), for recurring purposes consisting of ongoing operational expenses and employee compensation expenses?(Dane County Clerk)
Waunakee, Question 2: ballot wording
Shall the Waunakee Community School District, Dane County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $97,500,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project consisting of: removal of an older portion of the High School and construction of additions and renovations at the High School; renovations at the old middle school (known as the High School South Campus); outdoor athletic field renovations and improvements at the High School Campus; district-wide renovations, capital maintenance and site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?(Dane County Clerk)
None of the other nine districts, DeForest, Madison Metropolitan, McFarland, Monona Grove, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona, has a question on this ballot. We'll add results after the county canvass.
By Town
Your school district, not your town, decides which questions you vote on, and towns like Madison and Fitchburg span several districts. Property lookup shows which one serves your address.
| Town | Districts and their latest referendums |
|---|---|
| Madison | Madison Metropolitan: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: building (bonds) $507 million, passed; operating, recurring $100 million, passed. Verona: Last vote Nov 8, 2022: operating, recurring $19 million, passed. Middleton-Cross Plains: on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot (operating, non-recurring, $118.5 million). Last vote Nov 8, 2022: operating, non-recurring $65.47 million, passed. Sun Prairie: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: operating, recurring $25 million, passed. Monona Grove: Last vote Apr 4, 2023: operating, recurring $13.8 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Cottage Grove | Monona Grove: Last vote Apr 4, 2023: operating, recurring $13.8 million, passed. Sun Prairie: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: operating, recurring $25 million, passed.(DPI) |
| DeForest | DeForest: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: operating, recurring $7.9 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Fitchburg | Madison Metropolitan: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: building (bonds) $507 million, passed; operating, recurring $100 million, passed. Verona: Last vote Nov 8, 2022: operating, recurring $19 million, passed. Oregon: Last vote Nov 8, 2022: operating, recurring $11.4 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Maple Bluff | Madison Metropolitan: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: building (bonds) $507 million, passed; operating, recurring $100 million, passed.(DPI) |
| McFarland | McFarland: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: operating, recurring $5.25 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Middleton | Middleton-Cross Plains: on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot (operating, non-recurring, $118.5 million). Last vote Nov 8, 2022: operating, non-recurring $65.47 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Monona | Monona Grove: Last vote Apr 4, 2023: operating, recurring $13.8 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Mount Horeb | Mount Horeb: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: building (bonds) $34 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Oregon | Oregon: Last vote Nov 8, 2022: operating, recurring $11.4 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Shorewood Hills | Madison Metropolitan: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: building (bonds) $507 million, passed; operating, recurring $100 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Stoughton | Stoughton: Last vote Apr 2, 2024: operating, recurring $6.1 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Sun Prairie | Sun Prairie: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: operating, recurring $25 million, passed. DeForest: Last vote Nov 5, 2024: operating, recurring $7.9 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Verona | Verona: Last vote Nov 8, 2022: operating, recurring $19 million, passed.(DPI) |
| Waunakee | Waunakee: on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot (operating, recurring, $10.5 million; building (bonds), $97.5 million). Last vote Nov 5, 2024: operating, recurring $9.1 million, passed; operating, non-recurring $3.15 million, passed.(DPI) |
Every Referendum Since 2014
From DPI's School District Referenda Report, which districts report to after each vote.(DPI) Since 2014, 52 of these 53 decided questions passed. The one that failed was McFarland's Apr 2, 2024 operating request, and voters approved a smaller one that November. Votes are district-wide totals, including any part of a district outside Dane County.
| Date | District | Type | Amount | Result | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2024 | DeForest | Operating, recurring | $7.9 million | Passed | 56% |
| Nov 5, 2024 | Madison Metropolitan | Building (bonds) | $507 million | Passed | 72% |
| Nov 5, 2024 | Madison Metropolitan | Operating, recurring | $100 million | Passed | 69% |
| Nov 5, 2024 | McFarland | Operating, recurring | $5.25 million | Passed | 57% |
| Nov 5, 2024 | Mount Horeb | Building (bonds) | $34 million | Passed | 63% |
| Nov 5, 2024 | Sun Prairie | Operating, recurring | $25 million | Passed | 57% |
| Nov 5, 2024 | Waunakee | Operating, recurring + Operating, non-recurring | $9.1 million (operating, recurring) + $3.15 million (operating, non-recurring) | Passed | 55% |
| Apr 2, 2024 | McFarland | Operating, recurring | $10.6 million | Failed | 41% |
| Apr 2, 2024 | Stoughton | Operating, recurring | $6.1 million | Passed | 61% |
| Apr 4, 2023 | Monona Grove | Operating, recurring | $13.8 million | Passed | 58% |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Middleton-Cross Plains | Operating, non-recurring | $65.47 million | Passed | 63% |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Mount Horeb | Operating, recurring | $4.82 million | Passed | 65% |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Oregon | Operating, recurring | $11.4 million | Passed | 60% |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Stoughton | Building (bonds) | $36.3 million | Passed | 66% |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Stoughton | Building (bonds) | $11.7 million | Passed | 63% |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Sun Prairie | Operating, recurring | $9 million | Passed | 60% |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Verona | Operating, recurring | $19 million | Passed | 70% |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Waunakee | Operating, non-recurring | $10 million | Passed | 60% |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Waunakee | Building (bonds) | $175 million | Passed | 53% |
| Nov 3, 2020 | Madison Metropolitan | Operating, recurring | $33 million | Passed | 76% |
| Nov 3, 2020 | Madison Metropolitan | Building (bonds) | $317 million | Passed | 80% |
| Nov 3, 2020 | Monona Grove | Operating, non-recurring | $14.8 million | Passed | 60% |
| Nov 3, 2020 | Waunakee | Operating, non-recurring | $10.64 million | Passed | 63% |
| Apr 2, 2019 | DeForest | Operating, recurring | $2.5 million | Passed | 55% |
| Apr 2, 2019 | DeForest | Building (bonds) | $125 million | Passed | 55% |
| Apr 2, 2019 | Sun Prairie | Building (bonds) | $164 million | Passed | 57% |
| Apr 2, 2019 | Sun Prairie | Operating, recurring | $5 million | Passed | 59% |
| Nov 6, 2018 | Middleton-Cross Plains | Building (bonds) | $138.9 million | Passed | 70% |
| Nov 6, 2018 | Middleton-Cross Plains | Operating, recurring | $4.8 million | Passed | 69% |
| Nov 6, 2018 | Monona Grove | Operating, recurring | $930,000 | Passed | 58% |
| Nov 6, 2018 | Monona Grove | Building (bonds) | $57 million | Passed | 59% |
| Nov 6, 2018 | Oregon | Operating, recurring | $2.12 million | Passed | 62% |
| Nov 6, 2018 | Oregon | Building (bonds) | $44.9 million | Passed | 64% |
| Apr 4, 2017 | Mount Horeb | Building (bonds) | $38.5 million | Passed | 64% |
| Apr 4, 2017 | Verona | Operating, recurring | $2.29 million | Passed | 65% |
| Apr 4, 2017 | Verona | Building (bonds) | $162.76 million | Passed | 73% |
| Apr 4, 2017 | Verona | Building (bonds) | $18.52 million | Passed | 61% |
| Nov 8, 2016 | Madison Metropolitan | Operating, recurring | $26 million | Passed | 74% |
| Nov 8, 2016 | McFarland | Operating, recurring | $232,000 | Passed | 64% |
| Nov 8, 2016 | McFarland | Building (bonds) | $65.15 million | Passed | 66% |
| Nov 8, 2016 | McFarland | Operating, recurring | $1.10 million | Passed | 68% |
| Nov 8, 2016 | Oregon | Operating, recurring | $1.5 million | Passed | 65% |
| Nov 8, 2016 | Sun Prairie | Operating, recurring | $2.8 million | Passed | 63% |
| Nov 8, 2016 | Sun Prairie | Building (bonds) | $89.5 million | Passed | 66% |
| Apr 5, 2016 | Monona Grove | Operating, non-recurring | $13 million | Passed | 61% |
| Apr 7, 2015 | DeForest | Building (bonds) | $41 million | Passed | 76% |
| Apr 7, 2015 | Madison Metropolitan | Building (bonds) | $41 million | Passed | 82% |
| Apr 7, 2015 | Verona | Building (bonds) | $8.35 million | Passed | 66% |
| Nov 4, 2014 | Oregon | Operating, recurring | $355,864 | Passed | 60% |
| Nov 4, 2014 | Oregon | Building (bonds) | $54.6 million | Passed | 62% |
| Nov 4, 2014 | Waunakee | Operating, recurring | $2.16 million | Passed | 60% |
| Nov 4, 2014 | Waunakee | Building (bonds) | $44.8 million | Passed | 62% |
| Apr 1, 2014 | Stoughton | Operating, recurring | $7.05 million | Passed | 63% |
Download the data (CSV) · 57 rows · checked 2026-10-11
Amounts: building questions are the most the district may borrow; recurring operating questions are the yearly increase once fully phased in; non-recurring ones are the total over all years. Waunakee's November 2024 question had recurring and non-recurring parts and is shown as one row.
Operating vs. Building Referendums
- Operating questions let a district exceed its state revenue limit. The board's resolution must say whether the increase is recurring (permanent) or non-recurring (for the years named).(Wis. Stat. 121.91(3))
- Building questions let a district borrow by issuing bonds. The question must state the purpose and the maximum amount.(Wis. Stat. 67.05)
- Both pass by a simple majority.(Wis. Stat. 121.91(3))
The Rules
- Election days only. A referendum goes on the next regularly scheduled election at least 70 days after the board files its resolution.(Wis. Stat. 121.91(3)) The next ones after November 3 are February 16 and April 6, 2027.(DPI)
- Twice a year at most, counting operating and building questions together. A district hit by a natural disaster can hold a special vote within six months.(Wis. Stat. 67.05) These limits started January 1, 2018.(DPI)
- After a failed operating referendum, a low-spending district's revenue floor is frozen for three years unless voters later approve one.(DPI)
- Results go to DPI within 10 days of the election.(DPI)
On Your Tax Bill
State law requires tax bills to show temporary tax increases approved by referendum; Dane County bills list them on the back.(County Treasurer) See your tax bill, line by line and each school district's rate.
Questions
Which Dane County school districts have a referendum on November 3, 2026?
Among the 11 districts serving Madison and its nearest suburbs, two: Middleton-Cross Plains (one operating question, $118.5 million over four years) and Waunakee (an operating question and a $97.5 million building question). DeForest, Madison Metropolitan, McFarland, Monona Grove, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona have none.
What's the difference between a recurring and a non-recurring referendum?
Both let a district raise more property tax than the state revenue limit allows. A recurring increase stays in the district's budget permanently. A non-recurring one ends after the years named on the ballot.
How much will a referendum raise my taxes?
Districts publish their own estimates, usually per $100,000 of property value. The table above shows the estimate each district published for the November 2026 questions. Your actual change depends on your home's value and the district's other levies.
How often can a district hold a referendum?
At most twice a year, counting operating and building questions together, and only on a regularly scheduled election day at least 70 days after the board's resolution. A natural disaster is the exception.
How many Dane County school referendums have passed?
For these 11 districts, 52 of 53 ballot questions since 2014 passed. The only one that failed was McFarland's Apr 2, 2024 operating request.