BLANCHARDVILLE - The Pecatonica school board Monday could determine whether to seek a referendum on April 1.
On the agenda for the 7:30 p.m. special meeting at the high school library are discussion and possible action on setting a date, determining the amount to ask for and whether the referendum would be recurring or non-recurring.
"This is the first time the board has decided to absolutely reach closure on the question of a referendum," District Administrator David Westhoff said. Westhoff became the district's administrator in July, and is serving as administrator for one year.
Westhoff said the referendum has been mentioned in open session at school board meetings and at the annual meeting, but no public sessions were held before Monday's meeting.
Westhoff said the district anticipates a deficit of $80,000 for the 2007-08 school year, due in large part to an increase in salaries and benefits.
The district last passed a recurring referendum in 2004. It was for $150,000 for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years. Since then, Westhoff said, the district has seen revenue shortages.
"If we intend to maintain our facilities as we believe we should and keep up with technology," Westhoff said, a referendum is needed. "Maintaining the quality of our educational program without adding things would be extremely difficult."
Westhoff said he would advise asking for a minimum of $150,000 for at least two years and make the referendum recurring. In his most recent Web newsletter, Westhoff said if the district asks for the same amount it did in 2004, over two years, that taxpayers would see the school portion of their taxes increase about 71 cents for every $1,000 of property value.
"We need a recurring referendum because we need that continued revenue," Westhoff said. "But what I prefer may not necessarily carry the day."
Westhoff said the district conducted a survey through its Web site which didn't "directly address the referendum" but asked questions about the district's future. He said the district received 70 responses, and answers to the survey will be made available after Monday's meeting.
"There was probably less (public input) than we feel the referendum will ultimately require," Westhoff said. "Those of us in public positions have not received the public input that we should have."
Westhoff said the board has talked for a couple months about having public forums or focus groups about a possible referendum, but no action has been taken. He hopes some meetings may take place in the future.
"It's not as easy to encourage public participation as you would wish," Westhoff said. "But there's no way, in my experience, that a referendum is successful without public participation."
On the agenda for the 7:30 p.m. special meeting at the high school library are discussion and possible action on setting a date, determining the amount to ask for and whether the referendum would be recurring or non-recurring.
"This is the first time the board has decided to absolutely reach closure on the question of a referendum," District Administrator David Westhoff said. Westhoff became the district's administrator in July, and is serving as administrator for one year.
Westhoff said the referendum has been mentioned in open session at school board meetings and at the annual meeting, but no public sessions were held before Monday's meeting.
Westhoff said the district anticipates a deficit of $80,000 for the 2007-08 school year, due in large part to an increase in salaries and benefits.
The district last passed a recurring referendum in 2004. It was for $150,000 for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years. Since then, Westhoff said, the district has seen revenue shortages.
"If we intend to maintain our facilities as we believe we should and keep up with technology," Westhoff said, a referendum is needed. "Maintaining the quality of our educational program without adding things would be extremely difficult."
Westhoff said he would advise asking for a minimum of $150,000 for at least two years and make the referendum recurring. In his most recent Web newsletter, Westhoff said if the district asks for the same amount it did in 2004, over two years, that taxpayers would see the school portion of their taxes increase about 71 cents for every $1,000 of property value.
"We need a recurring referendum because we need that continued revenue," Westhoff said. "But what I prefer may not necessarily carry the day."
Westhoff said the district conducted a survey through its Web site which didn't "directly address the referendum" but asked questions about the district's future. He said the district received 70 responses, and answers to the survey will be made available after Monday's meeting.
"There was probably less (public input) than we feel the referendum will ultimately require," Westhoff said. "Those of us in public positions have not received the public input that we should have."
Westhoff said the board has talked for a couple months about having public forums or focus groups about a possible referendum, but no action has been taken. He hopes some meetings may take place in the future.
"It's not as easy to encourage public participation as you would wish," Westhoff said. "But there's no way, in my experience, that a referendum is successful without public participation."