Vos Supports New Limits On School District Tax Referendums

The speaker of the state Assembly says he’s open to preventing school boards from calling special elections for referendums.

A bill making its way through the state Legislature would require school districts to hold referendums on regularly scheduled election days. Sponsors say it will make sure more people vote on proposals to raise property taxes. But school administrators and school board members contend it ties their hands at the local level at a time when state funding has lagged.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he supports the ability of schools to ask voters to raise taxes.

“But I also think that we want to do it in a way that is regularly scheduled so there aren’t any additional costs for taxpayers if there’s no need,” Vos said.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said his members still need to discuss the bill. Under another provision in the bill, schools whose referendums fail would have to wait a full year before going back to voters.