DARLINGTON - It will once again be up to voters in Darlington to decide whether to maintain current levels of school funding, pay down debt on the elementary school building, and refinance the district's unfunded liability to the Wisconsin Retirement System.
That's because the Darlington Community District School board voted last month to authorize a pair of referendum questions to help keep schools running at current funding levels.
The questions will appear on the April 5 ballot, officials said.
The first seeks voter approval for issuing just more than $2 million in general obligation bonds to refinance debt and help the district meet its obligation to the state retirement fund. The Darlington district also is asking for a non-recurring referendum that will allow the district to exceed the state revenue cap by $700,000 each year over the next five years.
"The second resolution is for the same amount of money the community authorized for the school to continue operations through the 2011-2012 school year," District Superintendent Denise Wellnitz said.
She's referring to approval in 2008 of a four-year, $2.8 million referendum, which was used to fund general operating expenses at the rate of $700,000 each year for four years - starting with the 2008-2009 school year.
That amounted to an increase in the district's portion of taxes by 52 cents per $1,000 of property value, per year.
District officials have cited rising costs of utilities and other necessities - along with declining enrollment and a widening gap between state funding and expenses - for the overall budget shortfall.
"We are requesting our community members reaffirm their commitment at the same amount," over five years, through the 2016-2017 school year, Wellnitz said.
The ballot questions, if approved, "should cause no further taxation on our community members," Wellnitz said, adding that better interest rates on debt achieved through the bond sale may actually save the district money in the long run.
Wellnitz added she's optimistic the ballot questions will win voter approval.
"I really do think it makes good financial sense for the schools and the community," she said. "We think the board made a sound financial decision, one that we examined" extensively prior to voting to go forward.
That's because the Darlington Community District School board voted last month to authorize a pair of referendum questions to help keep schools running at current funding levels.
The questions will appear on the April 5 ballot, officials said.
The first seeks voter approval for issuing just more than $2 million in general obligation bonds to refinance debt and help the district meet its obligation to the state retirement fund. The Darlington district also is asking for a non-recurring referendum that will allow the district to exceed the state revenue cap by $700,000 each year over the next five years.
"The second resolution is for the same amount of money the community authorized for the school to continue operations through the 2011-2012 school year," District Superintendent Denise Wellnitz said.
She's referring to approval in 2008 of a four-year, $2.8 million referendum, which was used to fund general operating expenses at the rate of $700,000 each year for four years - starting with the 2008-2009 school year.
That amounted to an increase in the district's portion of taxes by 52 cents per $1,000 of property value, per year.
District officials have cited rising costs of utilities and other necessities - along with declining enrollment and a widening gap between state funding and expenses - for the overall budget shortfall.
"We are requesting our community members reaffirm their commitment at the same amount," over five years, through the 2016-2017 school year, Wellnitz said.
The ballot questions, if approved, "should cause no further taxation on our community members," Wellnitz said, adding that better interest rates on debt achieved through the bond sale may actually save the district money in the long run.
Wellnitz added she's optimistic the ballot questions will win voter approval.
"I really do think it makes good financial sense for the schools and the community," she said. "We think the board made a sound financial decision, one that we examined" extensively prior to voting to go forward.