If approved by a majority of voters, the $1.6 million referendum for each of 5 years would address the district's most urgent needs and provide greater financial stability for ETCSD over the next five years. It would have an estimated tax impact of $98 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

The district's needs are tied to a state-imposed revenue limit, which dates back to 1993 and restricts the amount of money available to ETCSD. In fact, ET currently has one of the lowest per-pupil revenue limits in southeastern WI. The district's projections indicate future deficits averaging $470,000 per year for the next five years.

To assess needs, the board engaged in a community-based process to develop and prioritize solutions based on their cost and potential impact to ensure the best return on taxpayers’ investments in their local schools. This included a fall 2018 survey, which the board used in preparing for a referendum. An ad-hoc committee—comprising of municipal officials, business leaders, parents and community members—met to review the survey results and examine school finance and its impact on the district’s budget.