| By Big Radio News Staff |

Milton School District will get a $5-million dollar boost annually after voters narrowly approved a recurring operational spending referendum Tuesday.

Unofficial vote totals out of Rock and Jefferson counties late Tuesday night show the school district’s referendum passed by just over 200 votes in a race that drew more than 13,000 district voters.

It means Milton schools is clear to tap taxpayers for an additional $5 million a year for school district operating expenses, starting in 2026-2027.

It replaces a $2.5 million, non-recurring operational referendum that’s expiring at the end of the coming school year.

The new referendum is registered as “recurring,” which means it has no sunset date. The district intends to use the $5 million referendum annually to pay for educational programs and staffing.

It’s a boost for a district that despite enrollment growth has faced almost two dozen teacher layoffs in the past few years.