Facts & FAQs

A capital referendum asks voters for authorization to borrow money for major building renovations, additions and infrastructure improvements. Capital referendum funds are used for facility projects and cannot be used for regular operating expenses such as salaries, classroom supplies or daily programming.

Elmbrook’s proposed referendum would fund renovations at four schools as part of the District’s 20-Year Facilities Plan.

The proposed referendum would fund renovations at:

• Pilgrim Park Middle School
• Wisconsin Hills Middle School
• Swanson Elementary School
• Tonawanda Elementary School

The projects would address the most critical needs identified through facility inspections, educational planning, enrollment analysis and comparisons with District standards. Priorities include safety and security, accessibility, major building systems, classroom and learning environments, and the long-term functionality of each school.

The District prioritized renovating existing schools instead of constructing new buildings and delayed lower-priority projects to reduce the total referendum amount.

More information can be found in Elmbrook's 20-Year Facilities Plan.

If the referendum is not approved, the proposed four-school renovations would not move forward as currently planned.

The District would continue maintaining its schools through its annual operating budget, but major facility needs would remain. The Board would need to determine whether to delay projects, reduce their scope, reconsider other facility or enrollment options, or return to voters with a different proposal.

Beginning in 2028, the debt portion of the tax rate associated with the 2008 high school referendum is scheduled to decrease by approximately $0.56 per $1,000 of property value. Without a new referendum, property owners would receive that projected reduction.

The estimated tax impact is an increase of $0.11 per $1,000 of property value compared with the District’s current debt tax rate.

This equals approximately:

• $11 per year for each $100,000 of property value
• $44 per year for a $400,000 property
• $55 per year for a $500,000 property
• $66 per year for a $600,000 property

The existing 2008 referendum debt accounts for approximately $0.56 per $1,000 of property value and is scheduled to expire in 2028. The proposed referendum would result in an estimated debt tax rate of approximately $0.67 per $1,000, producing a net increase of $0.11 over the current debt rate.

Yes. In 2008, voters approved a $62.1 million capital referendum for major improvements at Brookfield Central and Brookfield East high schools.

That debt is scheduled to be fully repaid in 2028. The timing of the proposed 2026 referendum allows the District to coordinate new borrowing with the retirement of the existing high school debt.

For the 2025-26 school year, Elmbrook’s total school property tax rate is $6.26 per $1,000 of equalized property value, the lowest mill rate in District history.

That equals approximately:

• $626 annually per $100,000 of property value
• $3,756 annually on a $600,000 property

Of the $6.26 total rate, approximately $0.56 per $1,000 is associated with debt from the 2008 high school referendum. That debt portion is scheduled to expire in 2028.

Shall the School District of Elmbrook, Waukesha County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $100,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project at Pilgrim Park Middle School, Tonawanda Elementary School, Swanson Elementary School and Wisconsin Hills Middle School consisting of: renovations, accessibility updates, building infrastructure and site improvements; construction of additions at Pilgrim Park Middle School; construction of an addition at Tonawanda Elementary School; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?

Elmbrook has identified major renovation needs at four of its oldest schools. These projects involve building systems, safety and security, accessibility, learning spaces and other improvements that are too large to fund through the District’s annual operating budget.

The District has invested more than $100 million from its operating budgets into facility maintenance, repairs and improvements since the 2008 referendum. The proposed projects represent larger, long-term investments that cannot be completed through the District’s regular maintenance funding alone.

The Board began developing a 20-Year Facilities Plan in 2025 to identify the investments needed across the District through 2045.

The planning process included:

• Independent inspections of every school
• Reviews of safety, maintenance and learning-space needs
• Comparisons with District standards
• Short- and long-term enrollment analysis
• Eight Board work sessions
• Facility tours and public engagement
• Development of renovation concepts and cost estimates
• A community-wide survey

The review found that Elmbrook’s four oldest schools require major renovations that go beyond routine maintenance. The Board selected the $100 million proposal after the community survey showed stronger support for the four-school option than for the smaller two-school option.

In April 2026, the District mailed a survey to all Elmbrook households and invited staff and families to participate. A total of 2,941 people responded.

The survey evaluated two potential referendum options. Among likely voters, weighted to reflect the broader community:

• 67% supported or probably supported a $100 million renovation plan involving four schools.
• 62% supported or probably supported an $85 million renovation plan involving two schools.

The Board used these results, along with facility needs, project costs and financial projections, when selecting the $100 million four-school proposal for the November ballot.

Although referendum construction would focus on four schools, the District projects that using referendum funding for those major renovations would preserve approximately $90 million in operating funds and savings during the next 15 years.

Those funds could then be used for maintenance, repairs and smaller improvement projects across all District schools rather than being redirected toward the four major renovation projects.

The District evaluated several approaches, including new construction. Based on the planning and cost analysis, renovating the existing schools was determined to be the more cost-effective option.

The plan also preserves the District’s current nine-school structure, which was supported by enrollment projections and the long-term need for school capacity.

A: Architectural concept drawings were used to establish the referendum budget. If approved in November, the District will finalize detailed architectural plans, secure municipal permits, and draft construction schedules designed to minimize disruption to learning.

Preliminary estimates forecast the following timeline:

• November 3, 2026: Referendum Vote

• Mid-November 2026 – November 2027: Detailed Design Phase

• January 2027 – April 2027: Municipal Engagement & Permitting

• Fall 2027 – Fall 2029: Construction Phase

No. State law prohibits the District from using public resources to advocate for or against a referendum.

The District may provide factual information about the proposed projects, financial impact, planning process and voting information so community members can make an informed decision.

The District continually monitors enrollment, building conditions and long-term maintenance needs.

The planning process specific to the current 20-Year Facilities Plan began in August 2025 and continued through June 2026. It included independent facility assessments, enrollment analysis, Board work sessions, concept development, cost estimates, school tours, staff listening sessions and a community-wide survey.

The Board formally selected the four-school referendum proposal in July 2026.

The referendum question will be on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To vote in the referendum, an individual must be:

• A United States citizen
• At least 18 years old by Election Day
• A resident of the School District of Elmbrook
• A resident at their current Wisconsin address for at least 28 consecutive days before the election
• Registered to vote and not otherwise legally disqualified from voting

Residents can register before the election or at their polling place on Election Day with the required proof of residence.

Election Day polling locations are assigned based on a voter’s residential address.

Residents can use Wisconsin’s MyVote website to find their polling place, view polling hours, confirm their registration and preview what will appear on their ballot. The District also provides links to election information for the City of Brookfield, Village of Elm Grove, Town of Brookfield and City of New Berlin.

The District did not begin with a list of desired improvements. It began with independent assessments of building condition, safety, accessibility, major systems, enrollment and educational functionality.

Routine maintenance and smaller improvements were assigned to the District’s operating-funded capital plan. The referendum was reserved for major projects that are too extensive to complete within the annual budget. Lower-priority elements were delayed or removed as the plan was refined.

Reasonable people may disagree about individual project priorities, but the proposal was developed through a documented process intended to distinguish necessary long-term investments from optional improvements and to limit the financial impact on taxpayers.

MISLEADING. The referendum would authorize the District to borrow up to $100 million for the proposed facility projects. As with a home mortgage or other long-term borrowing, the District would also pay interest over the repayment period. Based on current projections, total principal and interest are estimated at approximately $165.8 million, not $200 million.

The final interest cost will depend on market rates when the bonds are issued and how the debt is structured. Elmbrook’s Aaa bond rating, the highest available from Moody’s, helps the District secure lower borrowing rates. The District has also refinanced existing debt when market conditions allowed, reducing future interest costs for taxpayers. Moody’s has cited Elmbrook’s strong reserves, moderate long-term liabilities, growing tax base and well-managed operations as factors supporting its Aaa rating.

FALSE. The proposal includes work related to aging building systems, safety and security, accessibility, classroom size, learning spaces and the long-term functionality of the four schools. Cosmetic improvements may be included as part of construction, but they are not the primary purpose of the referendum.

MISLEADING. The District has invested more than $100 million from annual operating budgets in maintenance, repairs and improvements since the 2008 referendum and has identified an additional $90 million for work across all schools during the next 15 years. The referendum addresses major renovation projects that exceed what can reasonably be funded through annual maintenance budgets.

FALSE. The District formally evaluated a two-school plan involving Pilgrim Park and Tonawanda and a four-school plan that also included Wisconsin Hills and Swanson. The Community Survey Results showed stronger community support for the four-school option over the two-school plan. The Board also considered the cost & facility needs before selecting the four-school proposal.

FALSE. Enrollment trends were included in the District’s facility planning process. For the past five years, Elmbrook’s enrollment has increased from 7,371 to 7,717.  Projections for the next five years forecast enrollment to range from 7,765 to 7,870. The proposal is based on the projected long-term need for the District’s current school capacity, as well as the condition and functionality of the buildings. Renovation needs do not disappear solely because enrollment changes from year to year.

FALSE. The District evaluated renovation and replacement approaches. Based on current planning and cost estimates, renovating the existing schools was determined to be more cost-effective than constructing new buildings. For Pilgrim Park, the estimated cost of constructing a new middle school was $100 million, or approximately two times the cost to renovate it. An investment in the current facility is expected to yield another 40-50 years of life for the building that was built in 1958.

Tonawanda’s estimated renovation cost totals $33.7 million is a little more than half of the estimated cost to replace it. However the logistics of a tear-down, build new also need to be considered, with little additional land available to construct a new school on property, and not enough room at our other schools to accommodate an 18-24 month build. This investment is also anticipated to yield another 40-50 years of life and possibly more since both the gym (built in 2023) and the classroom addition will be new.

FALSE. Voter approval would authorize the District to borrow no more than the amount stated in the ballot question. The District could not borrow beyond that limit without separate legal authorization.