Whitewater Times

The Watertown Unified School District Board of Education has approved a recurring operational referendum question for the April 1, 2025 ballot. If passed, the district will exceed its state-imposed revenue limit by $7 million annually starting in the 2025-26 school year.

The additional funds would be allocated to several areas. These include strengthening school safety measures, maintaining high-quality programs and services, expanding student opportunities such as Career and Technical Education and Advanced Placement courses, and investing in recruiting and retaining top teachers and staff.

The proposed referendum would result in an estimated annual property tax increase of 70 cents per $1,000 of assessed fair market property value. For a home valued at $250,000, this equates to approximately $175 per year.

"We are proud of our successes," stated a district representative. However, they acknowledged that "the WUSD faces significant financial challenges due largely to factors that are outside of our control." These challenges include an inadequate state education funding system and rising costs due to inflation.

For more information on the referendum, residents can visit the new informational page on the district's website or contact Superintendent Dr. Jarred Burke at (920) 262-1460.