New Poll: Milwaukee Voters Want MPS to Close Under-Enrolled Schools Before Asking for More Taxpayer Money
Reported byUrban Milwaukee
Read the full story at Urban MilwaukeeAI-assisted summary
A poll of 1,038 registered Milwaukee voters, run by Change Research from October 2 to 11, 2026, was commissioned by City Forward Collective and its CFC Action Fund. The article is a press release submitted to Urban Milwaukee, not reporting by its staff. According to the results, 61% of voters think Milwaukee Public Schools' financial problems are serious enough to require closing or consolidating schools, while 20% disagree. Support for closures tied to declining enrollment started at 62% and rose to 71% after respondents heard arguments on both sides. Support for closures tied to years of weak academic results rose from 52% to 57%.
On taxes, 59% preferred closing schools over raising taxes to pay for the district's $355 million facilities plan. Only 37% said they would back another property tax referendum in 2027, 49% would oppose it, and 33% said they would definitely vote no. Support did not exceed 42% in any scenario tested. Just 27% believe enough good schools with open seats would be nearby if a school closed, while 51% do not.
The poll also found that 22% of voters view the School Board favorably and 46% unfavorably, and 16% would re-elect their current board member. CFC leader Colleston Morgan says voters want a clear plan and community input. The survey was done by text and online, with a margin of error of about 3.4 points. The article does not describe any next steps by the district.
Why it matters
The results, from a poll commissioned by an advocacy group, offer one view of how voters see school closures, taxes and board leadership. Families, staff and board members may find them relevant as the district weighs building decisions and future funding requests.
- School closures
- School consolidation
- Property taxes
- Enrollment decline
- Board governance
Written with AI from the publisher's article and may contain errors. The original reporting is the authoritative source.
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- What information would families need from the district before supporting a school closure or consolidation plan?
- How should a district weigh poll results from an advocacy group alongside other community input when making facilities decisions?
- What could the School Board do to build public trust while facing enrollment and budget pressures?
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