MONTICELLO - Monticello voters should be well informed before going to the polls April 1 to decide the fate of its school's $2.415 million referendum.
The Monticello school board Wednesday voted unanimously to authorize the school district's budget to exceed the revenue limit for six years for non-recurring purposes. Stephen Scanlan made the motion and Julie Kinstler seconded it.
The decision now goes to district voters April 1.
If passed, the referendum will allow the school budget to exceed its revenue limits by $305,000 next school year, by $390,000 for 2009-10 school year, and by $430,000 for each of the following four years.
The resolution states that the money will be for operational expenses; acquisition of textbooks, vehicles and technological equipment; replacement of the storage garage; and for maintenance and repair projects, including roofing, HVAC systems and flooring.
The roofing project alone makes up $517,460 of the referendum amount, much more than the $150,000 the board had first estimated.
District Administrator Karen Ballin said she will now take steps to inform the public in various ways, including the school's March newsletter and e-mail. Direct mailings with information will go out to every family with students, and to those people who attended the two informational meeting on Jan 16 and Feb. 4.
"We can ask to speak to organizations and provide information, but we can't promote," Ballin told the board members. "You can express your opinions, but I especially have to be very careful."
In some situations, where board members cannot or should not be discussing the issue, Board President Ken Christen said "an outside committee (of community members) can be there.
"They can be used more to our advantage," he said.
To be of use, Christian said a committee should be "put together and up and running by the end of the month."
There will be a support group organization meeting at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in the high school library. Ballin will attend for about 30 minutes to give the group information it can use regarding the referendum and advise them of their obligations under state law.
Any community member is welcome to attend the meeting and participate in the committee. However, Scanlan said the only list they have of interested individuals to invite is of people who attended the two public forums.
Board members are willing to talk to community organizations and church groups about the upcoming referendum.
The Health Fair on March 4 and the PTO Family Night March 3 will be two early opportunities for the board to get out its information, when "we have a captive audience," Scanlan said. A handout will be prepared as a quick way to pass information into the hands of the people on those nights.
But for all the board's efforts, member Randalll Smith warned that too much too soon would cause some voters to start tuning out.
"Keep it fresh," he said.
Ballin agreed. "We don't want it to peak too soon."
The Monticello school board Wednesday voted unanimously to authorize the school district's budget to exceed the revenue limit for six years for non-recurring purposes. Stephen Scanlan made the motion and Julie Kinstler seconded it.
The decision now goes to district voters April 1.
If passed, the referendum will allow the school budget to exceed its revenue limits by $305,000 next school year, by $390,000 for 2009-10 school year, and by $430,000 for each of the following four years.
The resolution states that the money will be for operational expenses; acquisition of textbooks, vehicles and technological equipment; replacement of the storage garage; and for maintenance and repair projects, including roofing, HVAC systems and flooring.
The roofing project alone makes up $517,460 of the referendum amount, much more than the $150,000 the board had first estimated.
District Administrator Karen Ballin said she will now take steps to inform the public in various ways, including the school's March newsletter and e-mail. Direct mailings with information will go out to every family with students, and to those people who attended the two informational meeting on Jan 16 and Feb. 4.
"We can ask to speak to organizations and provide information, but we can't promote," Ballin told the board members. "You can express your opinions, but I especially have to be very careful."
In some situations, where board members cannot or should not be discussing the issue, Board President Ken Christen said "an outside committee (of community members) can be there.
"They can be used more to our advantage," he said.
To be of use, Christian said a committee should be "put together and up and running by the end of the month."
There will be a support group organization meeting at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in the high school library. Ballin will attend for about 30 minutes to give the group information it can use regarding the referendum and advise them of their obligations under state law.
Any community member is welcome to attend the meeting and participate in the committee. However, Scanlan said the only list they have of interested individuals to invite is of people who attended the two public forums.
Board members are willing to talk to community organizations and church groups about the upcoming referendum.
The Health Fair on March 4 and the PTO Family Night March 3 will be two early opportunities for the board to get out its information, when "we have a captive audience," Scanlan said. A handout will be prepared as a quick way to pass information into the hands of the people on those nights.
But for all the board's efforts, member Randalll Smith warned that too much too soon would cause some voters to start tuning out.
"Keep it fresh," he said.
Ballin agreed. "We don't want it to peak too soon."