July 24, 2026
By ANASTASIA PENCHI
DE SOTO, Wis. – The De Soto Area School Board spent much of its regular July meeting discussing its options for a fall referendum.
Todd Hajewski, senior vice president at Baird Public Fiance, appeared in person for the July 20 meeting and gave a presentation on Wisconsin school financing and referendum options. He previously met with the Finance/Personnel/Negotiations Committee earlier this month.
Baird is a national company that helps public entities with finances and has been the district’s financial advisor for many years.
Hajewski brought three “scenarios” for discussion based on guidance provided previously by the committee. Each option was a three-year non-recurring operational referendum:
- One scenario covered only the budget deficit and eliminated the fund balance.
- One option kept a 30 percent fund balance each year.
- One option asked for a flat amount ($1.1 million) yearly that would leave the district with a 30 percent fund balance also at the end of year three.
Hajewski said 82 percent of Wisconsin’s 421 school districts currently have declining enrollment. During the last decade, 301 Wisconsin districts (71 percent) have had operational referendums: 267 (63 percent) were approved; 154 (37 percent) were denied.
Per pupil adjustments in Wisconsin have not kept up with inflation, Hajewski added, and instead of receiving state aid of $325 per student as happens now, schools should be getting $2,574 per student.
De Soto Area School District’s 2025-26 mill rate of $5.66 is the third lowest among the districts in the Cooperative Educational Service Agency # 4, which is made up of 26 school districts in west and central Wisconsin. The state average is $7.07 to $7.09, Hajewski added.
After discussion, board members said they preferred the 3-year non-recurring option that kept a 30 percent fund balance, as that would allow the district to pay its bills in the fall without having to short-term borrow before tax payments are received.
Board members discussed whether the district should add funds to complete needed technology and security upgrades to the Middle & High School. They also discussed future roof replacement needs there. Ultimately, members directed the district’s Business Manager to update the fund balance scenario with the most recent technology and security upgrades included.
The board is expected to finalize those details and pass a resolution during its regular August meeting in order to meet the requirements for a fall referendum in November.
“We’ve got to set ourselves up for success for this one,” said Mark Stevermer, board treasurer.
“I’m very happy with this,” added Holly Nickelatti, board president.
Anastasia Penchi is veteran writer who spent 13 years as a newspaper journalist and now works as a freelance writer. You may have seen her work in Coulee Region Women’s magazine, the Great Rivers Road blog and Explore La Crosse. Her passions are helping people in poverty and trying to save traditional journalism. She resides in Genoa and is a board member with Couleecap Inc. She can be reached at callmeloislane@hotmail.com.
Add comment