MONROE - The Monroe school board voted 6-0 to deny Bradley and Sara Kaster's petition Monday to alter school district boundaries so they could detach from the district and join the Black Hawk school district.
The Kasters, Browntown, have about 39 acres on which they built a home in the southwest part of the Monroe school district, and it is one of several properties between Monroe and South Wayne that are surrounded by or adjacent to the other district.
Monroe District Administrator Rick Waski advised rejecting the petition for detachment based on two reasons: He said the district less than two years ago asked voters to approve a referendum and that there are many other properties in the district that are adjacent to properties in other school districts.
Voters in Monroe approved a three-year referendum in November 2016 to increase the school district's budget by $1.5 million per year for operating costs, as well as a $460,000 increase for each of those years for maintenance and safety projects.
"I think voluntarily giving up tax revenue flies in the face of that," Waski said of the referendum. "I don't think giving up tax revenue is our best choice."
Board member Dan Bartholf abstained from the vote because his wife works in the Black Hawk school district. Bob Erb, school board president, and board member Jim Plourde had excused absences and missed the meeting.
The Kasters filed their petition to alter school district boundaries before Feb. 1, and the Monroe school board had to vote on the issue by March 1.
Bradley Kaster said in a school board meeting Feb. 12 that the main reason he wanted to have his property detached from the Monroe school district and added to the Black Hawk tax rolls is because he's a Black Hawk graduate and drives a bus for the South Wayne-based district.
Monroe Business Administrator Ron Olson said the Kasters' land is valued at $288,400, based on the most recent assessment with the county.
The Kasters completed a form and estimated the land's value at $600,000. Olson said the discrepancy in the assessed value of the property is that roughly 36 of the 39 acres is classified as agriculture and other land and is valued at $10,000 for property tax purposes.
Board member Rich Deprez said the state's open enrollment law would be a remedy for the Kasters.
The Black Hawk school board has already voted to have the Kasters' land added to the district, but it was dependent on the Monroe school board's approval. The Kasters can appeal Monroe's decision to the state Department of Public Instruction.
The Kasters, Browntown, have about 39 acres on which they built a home in the southwest part of the Monroe school district, and it is one of several properties between Monroe and South Wayne that are surrounded by or adjacent to the other district.
Monroe District Administrator Rick Waski advised rejecting the petition for detachment based on two reasons: He said the district less than two years ago asked voters to approve a referendum and that there are many other properties in the district that are adjacent to properties in other school districts.
Voters in Monroe approved a three-year referendum in November 2016 to increase the school district's budget by $1.5 million per year for operating costs, as well as a $460,000 increase for each of those years for maintenance and safety projects.
"I think voluntarily giving up tax revenue flies in the face of that," Waski said of the referendum. "I don't think giving up tax revenue is our best choice."
Board member Dan Bartholf abstained from the vote because his wife works in the Black Hawk school district. Bob Erb, school board president, and board member Jim Plourde had excused absences and missed the meeting.
The Kasters filed their petition to alter school district boundaries before Feb. 1, and the Monroe school board had to vote on the issue by March 1.
Bradley Kaster said in a school board meeting Feb. 12 that the main reason he wanted to have his property detached from the Monroe school district and added to the Black Hawk tax rolls is because he's a Black Hawk graduate and drives a bus for the South Wayne-based district.
Monroe Business Administrator Ron Olson said the Kasters' land is valued at $288,400, based on the most recent assessment with the county.
The Kasters completed a form and estimated the land's value at $600,000. Olson said the discrepancy in the assessed value of the property is that roughly 36 of the 39 acres is classified as agriculture and other land and is valued at $10,000 for property tax purposes.
Board member Rich Deprez said the state's open enrollment law would be a remedy for the Kasters.
The Black Hawk school board has already voted to have the Kasters' land added to the district, but it was dependent on the Monroe school board's approval. The Kasters can appeal Monroe's decision to the state Department of Public Instruction.