BRODHEAD - For a second time in less than two months, Brodhead voters rejected a referendum to allow the school district to exceed state-mandated property tax revenue caps.
The referendum failed 1,255 to 960, according to Tuesday's unofficial results.
The school district asked residents to allow the district to exceed the state-mandated revenue caps by $393,000 in 2010-11; $567,000 in 2011-12; and $797,100 in 2012-13.
The tax rate for 2010-11 would have been $8.27 per $1,000 of equalized property value, which is lower than this year's rate of $8.45. In the second year of the referendum, taxpayers would have paid a $9.52 rate. In the third year, the tax rate would have increased to $10.16.
Superintendent Charles Deery said he was disappointed with the results.
"I'm never surprised by an election," he said.
There were several reasons why the referendum failed, Deery said.
"I think the economy had an impact on the vote," he said.
Deery also said there were people who thought the district didn't make enough cuts. Other people might have been dissatisfied the district went to a second referendum so soon after the Feb. 16 referendum, which failed by a 55 to 45 percent vote, which also asked voters to allow the board to exceed revenue caps.
Board member Jim Wahl said he was "quite disappointed" with the results, but wasn't surprised.
"A lot of districts across the state are voting not to exceed the revenue caps," Wahl said.
The district also has no plans to try another referendum anytime soon, he said.
Deery said the district will continue to face budget problems in the future.
"They aren't going to go away," he said.
Deery said the district made enough cuts to balance the budget next year.
At a March school board meeting, the board identified five teachers and one guidance counselor who will be laid off or have their positions cut to make up next year's expected deficit of about $393,000.
Elementary school teacher Karen Rufenacht, high school math teacher Courtney Ring, part-time middle school teacher Marcia Petersen and high school guidance counselor Jennifer Flory will be laid off at the end of the school year.
High school Family and Consumer Education teacher Renee Boston and high school agriculture education teacher Jillian Beaty will have their hours reduced to 50 percent, but will remain with the district.
The referendum failed 1,255 to 960, according to Tuesday's unofficial results.
The school district asked residents to allow the district to exceed the state-mandated revenue caps by $393,000 in 2010-11; $567,000 in 2011-12; and $797,100 in 2012-13.
The tax rate for 2010-11 would have been $8.27 per $1,000 of equalized property value, which is lower than this year's rate of $8.45. In the second year of the referendum, taxpayers would have paid a $9.52 rate. In the third year, the tax rate would have increased to $10.16.
Superintendent Charles Deery said he was disappointed with the results.
"I'm never surprised by an election," he said.
There were several reasons why the referendum failed, Deery said.
"I think the economy had an impact on the vote," he said.
Deery also said there were people who thought the district didn't make enough cuts. Other people might have been dissatisfied the district went to a second referendum so soon after the Feb. 16 referendum, which failed by a 55 to 45 percent vote, which also asked voters to allow the board to exceed revenue caps.
Board member Jim Wahl said he was "quite disappointed" with the results, but wasn't surprised.
"A lot of districts across the state are voting not to exceed the revenue caps," Wahl said.
The district also has no plans to try another referendum anytime soon, he said.
Deery said the district will continue to face budget problems in the future.
"They aren't going to go away," he said.
Deery said the district made enough cuts to balance the budget next year.
At a March school board meeting, the board identified five teachers and one guidance counselor who will be laid off or have their positions cut to make up next year's expected deficit of about $393,000.
Elementary school teacher Karen Rufenacht, high school math teacher Courtney Ring, part-time middle school teacher Marcia Petersen and high school guidance counselor Jennifer Flory will be laid off at the end of the school year.
High school Family and Consumer Education teacher Renee Boston and high school agriculture education teacher Jillian Beaty will have their hours reduced to 50 percent, but will remain with the district.