ALBANY - Albany school district residents are being asked Tuesday if they will pay more in taxes to make building improvements and to avoid cuts in the classroom.
There are two referendums on the ballot.
The first would allow the district to borrow $2 million to make improvements to the school's energy system and roof.
The second would allow the district to collect taxes in excess of the revenue cap by $1.75 million over the next four years.
Albany Superintendent Stephen Guenther said both measures are important to the district. But he said the first referendum question might be easier for people to understand because building maintenance is something they can see. The second referendum would help the district maintain curriculum and technology expenditures to help students compete with other students after they leave high school, Guenther said.
Guenther said most of the people he's talked to are supportive of the maintenance referendum, and that district residents have passed nonrecurring increases like the second referendum in the past.
If the first referendum is passed, the owner of a $100,000 home in the district will pay an extra $49 in property taxes. If the second is passed they will pay an extra $97 a year in property taxes. The district's tax rate for the 2008-09 school year is $8.76 with is lower than eight other districts in the area. Only Brodhead and Belleville's tax rates, at $8.35 are lower than Albany's tax rate. If the referendums are passed the new tax rate for the district will be $10.22, which will be lower than all but Brodhead, Belleville and New Glarus.
The school's heating system would be replaced if the first referendum passes.
"Our heating system is very old," Guenther said. "The (two) boilers are well over 45 years old."
The school is heated with steam, and one of the 40 to 50 pipes that transfer the steam from the boiler has corroded. It might have been just a fluke, Guenther pointed out, but it also could be a sign that more of the pipes need to be replaced. Each pipe costs about $2,000 to replace.
"We can't operate if the heating system goes down, and there are times during the cold days of winter that we're running both boilers," he said.
The district would be able to regulate heat more efficiently if it had a new heating system. Guenther estimates the district could save between 20 percent and 30 percent on heating costs with a new heating system. In 2007, the district spent $35,000 in gas, Guenther said.
Passage of the first referendum also would allow the district to replace the school's flat roof, which Guenther said has started to leak. There are leaks in several offices, classrooms and the gymnasium. It would be more cost-effective to replace the roof with a sloped roof which could be insulated to save on heating costs, Guenther said.
In addition, money from the first referendum would be used to replace doors and glass in the gym lobby and replace tiles in some of the classrooms.
Guenther said the district has put off many maintenance projects over the years because it hasn't been able to increase its levy to cover the needed costs.
If the second referendum doesn't pass, Guenther said the district will face a $160,000 deficit next year. That will mean cuts that will result in increased class sizes.
"We can put 40 kids in a classroom, but it will hurt instruction," he said.
Over the past few years, the district has reduced or realigned its administration to save $60,000 per year; eliminated a staff position to save $70,000 a year; reduced a library position by 60 percent to save $40,000 a year; reduced a half-time kitchen position to save $6,000 a year; and reduced a full-time night custodian position to save $15,000 a year. In addition, the teachers' union has changed to a lower-cost insurance provider to help the district save money.
But if the district wants to keep up with others in terms of curriculum and overall education, it's going to need more money, Guenther said.
"We always want to be challenging ourselves, especially in education," Guenther said. "We don't want to be in the position where we just try to survive."
There are two referendums on the ballot.
The first would allow the district to borrow $2 million to make improvements to the school's energy system and roof.
The second would allow the district to collect taxes in excess of the revenue cap by $1.75 million over the next four years.
Albany Superintendent Stephen Guenther said both measures are important to the district. But he said the first referendum question might be easier for people to understand because building maintenance is something they can see. The second referendum would help the district maintain curriculum and technology expenditures to help students compete with other students after they leave high school, Guenther said.
Guenther said most of the people he's talked to are supportive of the maintenance referendum, and that district residents have passed nonrecurring increases like the second referendum in the past.
If the first referendum is passed, the owner of a $100,000 home in the district will pay an extra $49 in property taxes. If the second is passed they will pay an extra $97 a year in property taxes. The district's tax rate for the 2008-09 school year is $8.76 with is lower than eight other districts in the area. Only Brodhead and Belleville's tax rates, at $8.35 are lower than Albany's tax rate. If the referendums are passed the new tax rate for the district will be $10.22, which will be lower than all but Brodhead, Belleville and New Glarus.
The school's heating system would be replaced if the first referendum passes.
"Our heating system is very old," Guenther said. "The (two) boilers are well over 45 years old."
The school is heated with steam, and one of the 40 to 50 pipes that transfer the steam from the boiler has corroded. It might have been just a fluke, Guenther pointed out, but it also could be a sign that more of the pipes need to be replaced. Each pipe costs about $2,000 to replace.
"We can't operate if the heating system goes down, and there are times during the cold days of winter that we're running both boilers," he said.
The district would be able to regulate heat more efficiently if it had a new heating system. Guenther estimates the district could save between 20 percent and 30 percent on heating costs with a new heating system. In 2007, the district spent $35,000 in gas, Guenther said.
Passage of the first referendum also would allow the district to replace the school's flat roof, which Guenther said has started to leak. There are leaks in several offices, classrooms and the gymnasium. It would be more cost-effective to replace the roof with a sloped roof which could be insulated to save on heating costs, Guenther said.
In addition, money from the first referendum would be used to replace doors and glass in the gym lobby and replace tiles in some of the classrooms.
Guenther said the district has put off many maintenance projects over the years because it hasn't been able to increase its levy to cover the needed costs.
If the second referendum doesn't pass, Guenther said the district will face a $160,000 deficit next year. That will mean cuts that will result in increased class sizes.
"We can put 40 kids in a classroom, but it will hurt instruction," he said.
Over the past few years, the district has reduced or realigned its administration to save $60,000 per year; eliminated a staff position to save $70,000 a year; reduced a library position by 60 percent to save $40,000 a year; reduced a half-time kitchen position to save $6,000 a year; and reduced a full-time night custodian position to save $15,000 a year. In addition, the teachers' union has changed to a lower-cost insurance provider to help the district save money.
But if the district wants to keep up with others in terms of curriculum and overall education, it's going to need more money, Guenther said.
"We always want to be challenging ourselves, especially in education," Guenther said. "We don't want to be in the position where we just try to survive."