The Institute for Reforming Government unveiled a new online transparency tool Tuesday that gives Wisconsin taxpayers a clearer view of school district spending and staffing trends ahead of the spring 2026 referenda.
“Funding schools sufficiently is important, but taxpayers deserve clear information about district spending and staffing trends when considering new referenda,” said Quinton Klabon, Senior Research Director at the Institute for Reforming Government. “IRG’s tool provides simple, helpful information for anyone seeking to understand this April’s proposals.”
The tool, available on IRG’s website, compiles state and federal data to help voters evaluate local requests for additional revenue. IRG says the goal is to give residents a single, easy to use source for information that is often scattered across multiple reports.
The resource allows users to review proposed referendum spending, district staffing growth from 2020 to 2025, and how much temporary federal ESSER III funding was used to support ongoing costs. IRG notes that the data comes from publicly available state and NCES sources.
According to IRG’s latest analysis, Wisconsin public school enrollment has fallen by 49,078 students since 2020. During that same period, districts added 2,366 staff positions. The organization says the combination of fewer students and more employees means taxpayers are now supporting 8,878 additional adult staff statewide compared to 2020.
The report also highlights the impact of federal COVID relief spending. Nearly 614 million dollars in ESSER III funds were allocated to ongoing expenses over two years. With those temporary dollars now expired, some districts are turning to voters to maintain the higher spending levels.
IRG says the tool is designed to help residents make informed decisions as districts across Wisconsin prepare for spring ballot questions. Community members can review their district’s data directly on the organization’s website.
