BRODHEAD - Brodhead school district residents will be asked in April to approve lesser tax increases, over a shorter period of time, than what they rejected in a referendum earlier this week.
The Brodhead School Board on Friday voted unanimously in special session to put another ballot question to voters April 6. A similar referendum failed by a margin of about 55 percent to 45 percent Tuesday.
In April, the amount voters will be asked to allow the district to exceed state-mandated property tax revenue limits will be less. And the district will be asking to exceed the limit for three years, rather than four.
Also, the nearly 50 residents in attendance Friday learned that taxpayers actually may see a lower tax rate in 2010-11 if wages are frozen for teachers and administrators, and if the district spreads out roof repairs over 10 years rather than two.
In less than two months, district voters will be asked to allow the schools to exceed revenue caps by $393,000 in 2010-11, by $567,000 in 2011-12, and by $797,100 in 2012-13. It will be a non-recurring referendum, meaning the district's ability to exceed revenue caps would end after 2012-13 without another district-wide vote. In addition to funding roof replacement, the extra taxes would be used to cover operational expenses.
Tuesday's referendum also was non-recurring, for four years. It would have allowed the district to exceed revenue caps by $635,000 in the 2010-11 school year, by $810,000 in 2011-12, by $855,000 in 2012-13, and by $1.285 million in 2013-14.
The difference comes partially from savings the district would realize through wage freezes. The district's teachers' union has offered to accept a wage freeze next school year, which would save the district about $70,000. Administrators also have planned on wage freezes next year, saving about $15,000.
The district also plans to lengthen the payback period for a roof replacement loan from two to 10 years, and refinance a debt fund of about $949,000 for a previous project over five years rather than three.
Roof replacement is expected to cost about $680,000 - a figure arrived at from two bids received to have a projection before Tuesday's referendum. The district will apply for federal money to help cover the cost, and Brodhead Superintendent Charles Deery said more bids will be sought.
"Ideally, we would have three bids, or four or even five," he said, adding he hoped bids would come in lower than expected.
The savings would allow the district's tax rate for 2010-11 to be $8.27, board President Peggy Olsen said, which is lower than this year's rate of $8.45. That rate would increase in the second year, however, to $9.52 per $1,000 of equalized value. An owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay $952 in Brodhead school taxes, while the owner of a farm valued at $250,000 would pay $2,380.
In the third year, the tax rate would increase to $10.16, with taxes on the $100,000 home increasing to $1,016, and to $2,540 for the $250,000 farm property.
Board members said the message about taxes they heard from residents during a meeting Thursday was to be financially responsible.
"We're still going to find ways to cut things from the budget, even if the referendum passes," Deery said.
Brodhead resident Mark McGinty told the board he supported its decision to limit the referendum to three years, rather than four. He said the decision reflected comments from Thursday's meeting.
Board member Mike Krupke said the meetings this week helped inform the public about what needs to be done to finance the schools. He said the teachers' concession to freeze wages, which will mean a reduction of about $850 in their yearly salaries, is a positive sign.
"I think we turned the corner," Krupke said.
Board member Jim Wahl said about two-thirds of Brodhead's teachers live within the district.
"They're willing to not only take a cut in pay, but they're also willing to pay higher taxes," Wahl said.
Board members said they also learned this week what kind of an effect deep cuts in the school budget and the elimination of programs would have on enrollment.
About 150 parents have asked about open enrolling out of the district since Tuesday's vote. The board learned the district would lose more than $1 million in state aid if all 150 students enrolled in other schools. The amount could be higher if the students actually moved into another district.
For each student who enrolls in another district, Brodhead loses about $6,800 in state aid. If the student moves out of the district, the school loses about $10,000, the amount of state aid per student.
The board meets at 7 p.m. Monday in the district office. The board will discuss possible cuts in the budget if the second referendum fails.
The Brodhead School Board on Friday voted unanimously in special session to put another ballot question to voters April 6. A similar referendum failed by a margin of about 55 percent to 45 percent Tuesday.
In April, the amount voters will be asked to allow the district to exceed state-mandated property tax revenue limits will be less. And the district will be asking to exceed the limit for three years, rather than four.
Also, the nearly 50 residents in attendance Friday learned that taxpayers actually may see a lower tax rate in 2010-11 if wages are frozen for teachers and administrators, and if the district spreads out roof repairs over 10 years rather than two.
In less than two months, district voters will be asked to allow the schools to exceed revenue caps by $393,000 in 2010-11, by $567,000 in 2011-12, and by $797,100 in 2012-13. It will be a non-recurring referendum, meaning the district's ability to exceed revenue caps would end after 2012-13 without another district-wide vote. In addition to funding roof replacement, the extra taxes would be used to cover operational expenses.
Tuesday's referendum also was non-recurring, for four years. It would have allowed the district to exceed revenue caps by $635,000 in the 2010-11 school year, by $810,000 in 2011-12, by $855,000 in 2012-13, and by $1.285 million in 2013-14.
The difference comes partially from savings the district would realize through wage freezes. The district's teachers' union has offered to accept a wage freeze next school year, which would save the district about $70,000. Administrators also have planned on wage freezes next year, saving about $15,000.
The district also plans to lengthen the payback period for a roof replacement loan from two to 10 years, and refinance a debt fund of about $949,000 for a previous project over five years rather than three.
Roof replacement is expected to cost about $680,000 - a figure arrived at from two bids received to have a projection before Tuesday's referendum. The district will apply for federal money to help cover the cost, and Brodhead Superintendent Charles Deery said more bids will be sought.
"Ideally, we would have three bids, or four or even five," he said, adding he hoped bids would come in lower than expected.
The savings would allow the district's tax rate for 2010-11 to be $8.27, board President Peggy Olsen said, which is lower than this year's rate of $8.45. That rate would increase in the second year, however, to $9.52 per $1,000 of equalized value. An owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay $952 in Brodhead school taxes, while the owner of a farm valued at $250,000 would pay $2,380.
In the third year, the tax rate would increase to $10.16, with taxes on the $100,000 home increasing to $1,016, and to $2,540 for the $250,000 farm property.
Board members said the message about taxes they heard from residents during a meeting Thursday was to be financially responsible.
"We're still going to find ways to cut things from the budget, even if the referendum passes," Deery said.
Brodhead resident Mark McGinty told the board he supported its decision to limit the referendum to three years, rather than four. He said the decision reflected comments from Thursday's meeting.
Board member Mike Krupke said the meetings this week helped inform the public about what needs to be done to finance the schools. He said the teachers' concession to freeze wages, which will mean a reduction of about $850 in their yearly salaries, is a positive sign.
"I think we turned the corner," Krupke said.
Board member Jim Wahl said about two-thirds of Brodhead's teachers live within the district.
"They're willing to not only take a cut in pay, but they're also willing to pay higher taxes," Wahl said.
Board members said they also learned this week what kind of an effect deep cuts in the school budget and the elimination of programs would have on enrollment.
About 150 parents have asked about open enrolling out of the district since Tuesday's vote. The board learned the district would lose more than $1 million in state aid if all 150 students enrolled in other schools. The amount could be higher if the students actually moved into another district.
For each student who enrolls in another district, Brodhead loses about $6,800 in state aid. If the student moves out of the district, the school loses about $10,000, the amount of state aid per student.
The board meets at 7 p.m. Monday in the district office. The board will discuss possible cuts in the budget if the second referendum fails.