BLANCHARDVILLE - An April 1 referendum for voters in the Pecatonica school district is set.
The Pecatonica school board Monday night approved resolutions for the amount of the referendum to exceed state revenue caps.
The referendum will ask for $175,000 in 2008-09 and an additional $175,000, beginning in 2009-10, for recurring expenses. Beginning in 2009-10, the district would be authorized to exceed the revenue limit by $350,000 for as long as it sees a need.
Referendum money will be used for recurring operational expenses, such as updating technology, maintaining the facilities and paying salary expenses.
"It's time to take extraordinary efforts to reach out to people with information," school board President Rick Rolfsmeyer said to the board.
He asked the Finance Committee to prepare final information on the referendum in written form to be handed out to district residents.
Rolfsmeyer talked about word-of-mouth in the small district and suggested that board members approach community organizations they are part of to spread the word, and announced there will be at least one public meeting.
"We're not asking for all the money we need," he said.
He reminded those in attendance that the district is unusual because it supports two buildings in two communities. As far as budget cuts, the board hopes to use a public meeting or meetings to help shape those, Rolfsmeyer said.
"We want to get the best sense we can from people on what their vision is for the future," he said.
He hopes a failed referendum would mean delays, not cuts in the budget. No public meetings were scheduled yet as of Monday.
The Pecatonica school board Monday night approved resolutions for the amount of the referendum to exceed state revenue caps.
The referendum will ask for $175,000 in 2008-09 and an additional $175,000, beginning in 2009-10, for recurring expenses. Beginning in 2009-10, the district would be authorized to exceed the revenue limit by $350,000 for as long as it sees a need.
Referendum money will be used for recurring operational expenses, such as updating technology, maintaining the facilities and paying salary expenses.
"It's time to take extraordinary efforts to reach out to people with information," school board President Rick Rolfsmeyer said to the board.
He asked the Finance Committee to prepare final information on the referendum in written form to be handed out to district residents.
Rolfsmeyer talked about word-of-mouth in the small district and suggested that board members approach community organizations they are part of to spread the word, and announced there will be at least one public meeting.
"We're not asking for all the money we need," he said.
He reminded those in attendance that the district is unusual because it supports two buildings in two communities. As far as budget cuts, the board hopes to use a public meeting or meetings to help shape those, Rolfsmeyer said.
"We want to get the best sense we can from people on what their vision is for the future," he said.
He hopes a failed referendum would mean delays, not cuts in the budget. No public meetings were scheduled yet as of Monday.