East Troy voters head to the polls on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to decide whether to renew an operational school tax referendum that would let the district raise an extra $4 million a year for three years. The proposal is strictly for day-to-day operations such as teachers, classroom programs, counseling and safety, not for building projects. The run-up to the vote has been hard to miss, with parents rallying on the Village Square and opponents lining Highway 120 south of East Troy with oversized "Tax Troy" signs.
The East Troy Board of Education voted unanimously to put the question on the April ballot. The district says approval would allow it to exceed the state revenue limit by $4 million per year for the 2026-27 through 2028-29 school years, according to the East Troy Community School District. The district notes that the measure follows a three-year operational referendum passed in 2023 and describes the new request as a way to sustain staffing, programming and everyday school operations.
Supporters staged a rally on the Village Square the weekend before the vote and told local reporters they view the renewal as essential to avoid deeper cuts. As TMJ4 reported, parent Emily Will said, "Three years ago, we had lost 75 teachers in a matter of three years. That had a huge impact on my kids."
District budget projections show a sizable shortfall without new operational revenue. Current estimates indicate roughly a $4.3 million gap in 2026-27, with larger deficits projected in later years, according to the district's referendum materials. The East Troy Community School District also says passage would not completely solve its financial problems and still anticipates about $1.8 million in additional budget-balancing measures over three years even if voters approve the question.
How the money would be used
If approved, the added levy authority would go toward classroom staffing, student services, transportation and other day-to-day costs that keep schools running. School leaders argue the three-year, non-recurring package would give the district time to stabilize staffing levels and protect electives and supports that were at risk in earlier budget cycles.
Opposition and the school-board contest
Opponents have made their case with signs along Highway 120 that read "Tax Troy" and "Stop the Insanity," and the fight over the referendum has spilled into this spring's school-board race. Voters will also choose between David Dodge and Paul Rains for a seat on the East Troy School Board. Board President Adam Witkiewicz warned that without the referendum "you'd be looking at losing full-time staff, classroom teachers, classroom ratios would go up. We would also have to cut programs," as reported by TMJ4.
How to cast your ballot
Election day is Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and municipal rules govern absentee requests and polling locations. The Town of East Troy's election page notes that the deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026, and advises voters to confirm their polling place ahead of the vote. The Town of East Troy site has additional local election resources.
Whatever voters decide, the outcome will shape staffing and programming in the district for the next several years and could influence future ballot fights over school funding across Wisconsin. Residents looking for more detail can review the district's FAQ and budget documents to see how the projections line up with the choices on the ballot.
