Editor's note: The following story contains information that was corrected from what was originally published online.
MONROE - Area school districts celebrated Tuesday night as news rolled in that their facilities were given permission by voters to increase their budgets, with the exception of one.
Albany
Albany School Superintendent Steve Guenther happily shared the results of Tuesday's referendum vote with 61 percent approving the district's referendum question.
"I'm ecstatic, I couldn't be happier," Guenther said. "It just goes to show what I believe; that small, rural schools are needed and the community supports them."
The district asked for an operating increase over three years, with an $800,000 increase for the 2016-17 school year followed by a $1 million amount each year after that. State budget cuts and high operating costs would have forced severe cuts to the district, Guenther said. Reducing the budget would have called for 10 staff members to be fired and a number of extracurricular no longer offered to students.
"We could have opened the door next year, but that's about it," Guenther said.
The referendum is to cover the next three years of operating expenses solely, and will go to costs such as books, transportation, food service and general facilities.
Argyle
Two referendum questions were on the ballot for the Argyle school district on Tuesday. Both measures passed, but question No. 2 was approved by only a narrow
margin. Administrator Phil Updike said plans to make improvements will start immediately, and that meetings to finalize a timeline will take place next week.
"I think our community support is amazing," Updike said. "People asked good questions during our forums and they had an appreciation for all of the work we put together. We definitely appreciate it."
Question No. 1 asked for permission for the district to take no more than $6.5 million in general obligation bonds. The borrowing will allow the district to upgrade HVAC; make roof and flooring repairs; add a technical education classroom and shop space; add new storage and office space; add a maintenance garage; renovate current classrooms as well as the elementary school gymnasium and locker rooms; and purchase furnishings, fixtures and equipment. The amount will not increase property taxes from the 2015 rate.
Question No. 2 asked for an expansion on the first one. The plan would include a new gymnasium at the high school, as well as restrooms, office space and athletic storage. Estimated costs for a new gymnasium and its corresponding space is $2.6 million, which would create an estimated annual tax increase of roughly $75 for a home valued at $100,000.
Brodhead
Budget shortfalls had resulted in heavy deficit projections for Brodhead, but the district's referendum passed by less than 300 votes on Tuesday. With six of seven precincts tallied, there were 1,036 votes in favor of the referendum and 737 votes against, Superinten-dent Lenny Lueck reported Tuesday. He said the remaining precinct, the Town of Spring Valley, likely did not have enough votes to change the outcome of the referendum.
Lueck was pleased the referendum passed.
"I was hoping for a little bigger margin," he said, but added it was still "a pretty good margin."
The referendum question asked for approval to exceed state revenue caps by $950,000 each year for three years, beginning with the 2016-17 school year. The district said the purpose of the request is to fund current programs, maintain class sizes, keep a variety of courses available to students and reduce district debt.
Darlington
The school district of Darlington took a hit on Tuesday as local voters declared they would not allow the tax levy to be raised for the school's operating cost. The referendum failed with 1,040 votes against and 782 in favor. The questions asked that the district be allowed to exceed revenues by $1 million for the 2016-17 school year, and up to an additional $2.2 million for the 2017-18 school year and each year following.
Superintendent Denise Wellnitz could not be reached for comment.
Darlington officials planned to utilize $800,000 of the $1 million they've asked for the 2016-17 year. In 2017-18, they plan to utilize $1.75 million of the $2.2 million. The following year, they had outlined they would have used $1.85 million of the total.
Juda
Juda schools saw both referendum questions pass on Tuesday night, though the first request was approved by less than 70 votes in favor. Question No. 1 asked that the school be allowed to borrow $5.7 million for building improvements. It was approved by 293 votes in favor, 224 against. The second question requested $150,000 operational referendum through a tax levy. Operational costs include curriculum, loan payments, staffing, increased insurance costs and the technology budget.
Administrator Traci Davis expressed gratitude on behalf of the district, and to those who organized an effort to ensure a positive outcome.
"It's very needed to keep buildings intact and safe for our students," Davis said. "The timing was right and we're grateful for the community, the turnout and the people who put in the work."
MONROE - Area school districts celebrated Tuesday night as news rolled in that their facilities were given permission by voters to increase their budgets, with the exception of one.
Albany
Albany School Superintendent Steve Guenther happily shared the results of Tuesday's referendum vote with 61 percent approving the district's referendum question.
"I'm ecstatic, I couldn't be happier," Guenther said. "It just goes to show what I believe; that small, rural schools are needed and the community supports them."
The district asked for an operating increase over three years, with an $800,000 increase for the 2016-17 school year followed by a $1 million amount each year after that. State budget cuts and high operating costs would have forced severe cuts to the district, Guenther said. Reducing the budget would have called for 10 staff members to be fired and a number of extracurricular no longer offered to students.
"We could have opened the door next year, but that's about it," Guenther said.
The referendum is to cover the next three years of operating expenses solely, and will go to costs such as books, transportation, food service and general facilities.
Argyle
Two referendum questions were on the ballot for the Argyle school district on Tuesday. Both measures passed, but question No. 2 was approved by only a narrow
margin. Administrator Phil Updike said plans to make improvements will start immediately, and that meetings to finalize a timeline will take place next week.
"I think our community support is amazing," Updike said. "People asked good questions during our forums and they had an appreciation for all of the work we put together. We definitely appreciate it."
Question No. 1 asked for permission for the district to take no more than $6.5 million in general obligation bonds. The borrowing will allow the district to upgrade HVAC; make roof and flooring repairs; add a technical education classroom and shop space; add new storage and office space; add a maintenance garage; renovate current classrooms as well as the elementary school gymnasium and locker rooms; and purchase furnishings, fixtures and equipment. The amount will not increase property taxes from the 2015 rate.
Question No. 2 asked for an expansion on the first one. The plan would include a new gymnasium at the high school, as well as restrooms, office space and athletic storage. Estimated costs for a new gymnasium and its corresponding space is $2.6 million, which would create an estimated annual tax increase of roughly $75 for a home valued at $100,000.
Brodhead
Budget shortfalls had resulted in heavy deficit projections for Brodhead, but the district's referendum passed by less than 300 votes on Tuesday. With six of seven precincts tallied, there were 1,036 votes in favor of the referendum and 737 votes against, Superinten-dent Lenny Lueck reported Tuesday. He said the remaining precinct, the Town of Spring Valley, likely did not have enough votes to change the outcome of the referendum.
Lueck was pleased the referendum passed.
"I was hoping for a little bigger margin," he said, but added it was still "a pretty good margin."
The referendum question asked for approval to exceed state revenue caps by $950,000 each year for three years, beginning with the 2016-17 school year. The district said the purpose of the request is to fund current programs, maintain class sizes, keep a variety of courses available to students and reduce district debt.
Darlington
The school district of Darlington took a hit on Tuesday as local voters declared they would not allow the tax levy to be raised for the school's operating cost. The referendum failed with 1,040 votes against and 782 in favor. The questions asked that the district be allowed to exceed revenues by $1 million for the 2016-17 school year, and up to an additional $2.2 million for the 2017-18 school year and each year following.
Superintendent Denise Wellnitz could not be reached for comment.
Darlington officials planned to utilize $800,000 of the $1 million they've asked for the 2016-17 year. In 2017-18, they plan to utilize $1.75 million of the $2.2 million. The following year, they had outlined they would have used $1.85 million of the total.
Juda
Juda schools saw both referendum questions pass on Tuesday night, though the first request was approved by less than 70 votes in favor. Question No. 1 asked that the school be allowed to borrow $5.7 million for building improvements. It was approved by 293 votes in favor, 224 against. The second question requested $150,000 operational referendum through a tax levy. Operational costs include curriculum, loan payments, staffing, increased insurance costs and the technology budget.
Administrator Traci Davis expressed gratitude on behalf of the district, and to those who organized an effort to ensure a positive outcome.
"It's very needed to keep buildings intact and safe for our students," Davis said. "The timing was right and we're grateful for the community, the turnout and the people who put in the work."