The election Tuesday, Nov. 3, will only draw interest in this area of Wisconsin for residents living within the Waupun and Oakfield school districts.

School referendums placed on the ballot will decide the fate of some Waupun schools and the economic stability of the Oakfield School District.

Waupun

Voters in the Waupun Area School District and the Randolph School District will decide whether or not the city and town of Fox Lake should be allowed to detach from Waupun and attach to Randolph. Waupun Administrator Randy Refsland said the decision will affect every taxpayer, student and family in both districts.

About 2,000 students are enrolled in Waupun area schools and about 230 of those students come from the Fox Lake area.

In order for the referendum to pass, electors in both school districts must approve the question. If that happens, the school boards of both districts would have to split up the assets and liabilities of the detached portion.

Fox Lake is a portion of the school district with higher property values. Fox Lake area residents initiated the detachment after a Fox Lake school was closed because of budget cuts.

A "yes" vote would increase Waupun property taxes for the first two years after the detachment. Assuming state funding continues, the tax rate would decrease in 2012-13, according to a study done by Robert W. Baird and Associates.

If the detachment is approved, the Waupun school tax rate for next year is estimated at $9.46 per thousand of property value, or $946 on a $100,000 home. Without detachment, the rate would run around $9.39.

Fox Lake property owners attached to the Randolph School District would pay more in taxes, tax records indicate.

Oakfield

A $2.5 million school referendum in Oakfield is asking residents for approval to exceed revenue caps over four years.

There would be no tax increase, said Superintendent Joe Heinzelman.

Declining enrollment (about 517 students attend school) in the community has led to closure of the elementary school and school consolidation.

The referendum is asking for $600,000 each year for the next two years, and $700,000 for the final two years.

A $2.8 million operations referendum approved in 2006 for Oakfield Schools runs out this year.