GREEN BAY – The Green Bay School District is asking voters to approve a $92.6 million capital referendum this November for school maintenance, playground upgrades, and middle and high school athletics and auditorium improvements. 

What does that all mean for voters, and what do you need to know? 

Here's a breakdown of the referendum, the projects it would fund and what it might mean for your taxes:

In general, a referendum is any election in which the public votes to approve or reject a specific proposal, according to Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau. 

There are multiple types of referendums, but for school districts there are only two: capital and operational.

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A capital referendum, which is the type the Green Bay School District is putting on the ballot, designates a specific purpose for the money. Typically, that purpose is for construction projects or school facility improvements but can also include initiatives such as more mental health services. 

Another name for a capital referendum is a referendum to issue debt. That's because the district is asking voters if it can borrow money, usually in the form of bonds, to pay for the referendum's specified projects. 

The other type of referendum is operational. In Wisconsin, school districts have revenue limits that cap how much money can be generated from property taxes and state aid. An operational referendum, if passed, allows school districts to exceed this limit by however much voters approved in the referendum either indefinitely or for a set period of time. 

School districts are required by law to ask voters to borrow money or exceed the state-imposed revenue limit. Going to referendum is the only way to generate extra funding beyond state and federal aid.

The district's maintenance budget is about $3.5 million a year, which administrators say is not enough to maintain its 42 school buildings and facilities.

Some of the renovations are deferred maintenance that will become more costly to repair in both labor and supplies if they are left unfixed, according to the district. 

Since the district paid off the debt from a 2017 referendum, it can ask for another referendum without increasing the tax rate. 

The largest chunk of money would fund high school and middle school upgrades with a focus on athletic and fine arts facilities. 

All four high schools, the five middle schools and the John Dewey Academy of Learning charter school could see makeovers to their facilities. 

Some of the main highlights are the potential facility renovations to the district's largest school: Preble High.

If the referendum passes, Preble's auditorium will get new seating, the commons will expand to accommodate more students and eight classrooms will be added. The stadium would get artificial turf, a resurfaced track, restrooms and additional storage. 

Franklin Middle School would get new bleachers and a new sound system in its large gym with a volleyball court addition to its smaller gym. 

Lombardi Middle School is looking at new batting cages and a painted gym, and the John Dewey Academy of Learning's HVAC system would be replaced.

About $43.4 million would go toward addressing delayed school maintenance, making schools more energy efficient and improving school safety. 

LED lighting would be installed, and Edison Middle and Sullivan Elementary would get new windows.

HVAC systems would be upgraded at Sullivan and Howe Elementary schools. A solar array would provide power to Lombardi Middle and King Elementary in the district's first renewable energy project in its history. 

New furniture at the middle and high schools, ceiling tiles, flooring and emergency generators would be installed. East, West and Southwest high schools and then Franklin and Washington Middle Schools would get new roofs. 

Bike and walk safety signs would be posted in about 70 school zones throughout the city, and the district's food production center and warehouse would be expanded.

For playground improvements, about $1.2 million would go to replacing old equipment and making playgrounds compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Aldo, Baird, Jackson and Kennedy elementary schools would get new playgrounds, the asphalt would be replaced at Red Smith and the city park playgrounds used by Danz and Sullivan elementary schools would be made ADA compliant. 

A full breakdown of the proposed projects can be found on a referendum page on the district's website.

The district estimates that it would pay off the $92.6 million it hopes to borrow in two to four years. According to district estimates, interest payments on the debt would be about $3 million, which is not included in the sticker price. Financing for the money can't be finalized until the referendum passes, and with interest rates in flux, that number is subject to change. 

The rate at which the district will tax property owners will drop to the lowest rate since 1984 regardless of whether the referendum passes. The current rate is $9.03 per $1,000 valuation of property. 

If the referendum passes in November, the tax rate will drop to $8.24 per $1,000 valuation of property. For a home that's valued at $175,000, a homeowner can expect to pay about $1,440 in taxes to the district.

If it fails to pass, the rate will drop to $4.76. However, the district cautions that if the referendum fails to pass, a subsequent larger hike in the tax rate will be necessary to pay for future maintenance or operational needs. 

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While the tax rate is dropping regardless, the amount you'll pay in taxes will be determined by your property's value. In its preliminary budget, the Green Bay School District predicted home values would increase by 8% on average, and the city recently sent out property assessment letters to residents based on the citywide revaluation.

Yes, in Brown County the Pulaski and Denmark school districts are putting referendums on the ballot in November. Statewide, there will be 81 referendum questions, with some districts seeking both capital and operational funding. 

The referendum is a part of the Nov. 8 general election where voters will decide on the state's next governor, one of Wisconsin's two U.S. senators and state level representatives. 

The latest you can register to vote is in-person at your polling place on Election Day. For a list of voter deadlines for the upcoming election, visit myvote.wi.gov, scroll to the middle of the page and click the "Wisconsin Election Deadlines" box. 

MORE:How to register to vote, request an absentee ballot and answers to other questions about voting in Wisconsin

You can also visit myvote.wi.gov to start the voter registration process, find your polling place or request an absentee ballot. 

For those wondering what their ballot might look like when they go to vote in November, here is the referendum question you can expect to see on your ballot:

"Shall the Green Bay Area Public School District, Brown County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $92,605,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project consisting of: district-wide safety, security, building infrastructure and capital maintenance improvements; renovations and facility updates to secondary schools; construction of an addition at certain district buildings; district-wide athletic facility and site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?"

Danielle DuClos is a Report for America corps member who covers K-12 education for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at dduclos@gannett.com or 907-717-6851. Follow on Twitter @danielle_duclos. You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Dr, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.