MONROE - Area schools have scheduled referendums for additional funds in light of budget cuts from the state and operating expenses that outweigh revenue.
Districts with upcoming referendums on the April 5 ballot include:
Albany
The Albany school board is holding a referendum to ask voters to exceed revenue limits to maintain facilities and programs at current levels.
The district's last referendum was passed in November 2012 for $1.64 million over three years to handle an operating deficit. The district now faces a $1 million shortfall for the 2016-17 school year as a result of state budget cuts and high operating costs. The referendum will cover the next three years of operating expenses solely, and would go to costs such as books, transportation, food service and general facilities.
Without the referendum, the district warns that the school will have "to make significant cuts to remain open" in extracurricular programs and supplies.
Argyle
Two questions are set for voters in the Argyle school district. The first addresses the need for an addition and renovation while the second requests money to build a new gym for the high school.
Question No. 1 asks for permission for the district to take no more than $6.5 million in general obligation bonds to provide district buildings with HVAC upgrades; repair the roof and flooring; add a technical education classroom and shop space; new storage and office space; a new storage and maintenance garage; renovate classrooms as well as the elementary school gymnasium and locker rooms; and purchase of furnishings, fixtures and equipment. The amount would not increase property taxes from the 2015 rate.
Question No. 2 asks for an expansion on the first one. The plan could include a new gymnasium at the high school, as well as restrooms, office space and athletic storage. The intent behind the new auxiliary gym is to accommodate a schedule for the sole gymnasium which school officials said is already at capacity seven days a week, and the new space could also be utilized by members of the public for recreational programs. Estimated cost for a new gymnasium and its corresponding space is $2.6 million, which would create an estimated annual tax increase of roughly $75 for a home valued at $100,000.
Brodhead
Budget shortfalls have resulted in heavy deficit projections for Brodhead. The district has placed a referendum question which asks for approval to exceed state revenue caps by $950,000 each year for three years, beginning with the 2016-17 school year. School officials say even with the increase, Brodhead will still have the lowest tax rate compared to other area districts. Currently the tax amount is $909 for a home valued at $100,000. With the approval of a referendum, the amount would increase to $958 in the 2016-17 school year, and then to $959 for the following year, before dropping back to $905 per $100,000 household for the 2018-19 school year.
The Brodhead district said the purpose is to fund current programs, maintain class sizes, keep a variety of courses available to students and reduce district debt. Without referendum approval, the district projects its deficit will be more than $1.5 million by the 2017-18 school year.
Darlington
Darlington's school board is seeking a $2.2 million operational referendum. The questions asks that the district be allowed to exceed revenues by $1 million for the 2016-17 school year, and up to an additional $2.2 million for the 2017-18 school year and each year following.
The operating referendum is solely for facility needs. The district has decide to ask for the referendum in order to adjust to rising costs accompanied by decreased state aid. It is ongoing, and would therefore not be a bulk sum, but a total broken up by year. Darlington officials plan to use $800,000 of the $1 million they're asking for the 2016-17 year. In 2017-18, they plan to use $1.75 million of the $2.2 million. The following year, they have outlined they would use $1.85 million of the total. Darlington materials on the referendum indicate they would like to "grow into" the $2.2 million amount, and only levy what is needed each year.
Voters passed a five-year referendum in April 2011 that supplied the district with $700,000 per year above its revenue limit.
Juda
There will be two questions before Juda voters: The first requests the school be allowed to borrow $5.7 million for building improvements and the second asks to increase the tax levy by $150,000 for operational costs. School officials said the district is eligible to receive state aid, which would reduce the tax impact at the beginning of the second year of the referendum. Operational costs include curriculum, loan payments, staffing, increased insurance costs and the technology budget.
While the $5.7 million borrowing to be repaid over 20 years is tax neutral, the operational referendum would raise the tax rate for a $100,000 home by $144 as a result of the operational referendum in the first year, the 2016-17 school year. The building referendum would add $0.36 to the tax rate starting the second year, or $36 for a $100,000 house.
Building projects include remodeling underutilized spaces; dealing with asbestos; and making other facility upgrades, such as partial replacement of the roof and updating school security. The district also plans to replace 14-year-old learning materials.
Juda's current debt will end in the 2017-18 school year. The district last went to referendum in 2000 with $4.2 million for a new gym and computer lab.
Districts with upcoming referendums on the April 5 ballot include:
Albany
The Albany school board is holding a referendum to ask voters to exceed revenue limits to maintain facilities and programs at current levels.
The district's last referendum was passed in November 2012 for $1.64 million over three years to handle an operating deficit. The district now faces a $1 million shortfall for the 2016-17 school year as a result of state budget cuts and high operating costs. The referendum will cover the next three years of operating expenses solely, and would go to costs such as books, transportation, food service and general facilities.
Without the referendum, the district warns that the school will have "to make significant cuts to remain open" in extracurricular programs and supplies.
Argyle
Two questions are set for voters in the Argyle school district. The first addresses the need for an addition and renovation while the second requests money to build a new gym for the high school.
Question No. 1 asks for permission for the district to take no more than $6.5 million in general obligation bonds to provide district buildings with HVAC upgrades; repair the roof and flooring; add a technical education classroom and shop space; new storage and office space; a new storage and maintenance garage; renovate classrooms as well as the elementary school gymnasium and locker rooms; and purchase of furnishings, fixtures and equipment. The amount would not increase property taxes from the 2015 rate.
Question No. 2 asks for an expansion on the first one. The plan could include a new gymnasium at the high school, as well as restrooms, office space and athletic storage. The intent behind the new auxiliary gym is to accommodate a schedule for the sole gymnasium which school officials said is already at capacity seven days a week, and the new space could also be utilized by members of the public for recreational programs. Estimated cost for a new gymnasium and its corresponding space is $2.6 million, which would create an estimated annual tax increase of roughly $75 for a home valued at $100,000.
Brodhead
Budget shortfalls have resulted in heavy deficit projections for Brodhead. The district has placed a referendum question which asks for approval to exceed state revenue caps by $950,000 each year for three years, beginning with the 2016-17 school year. School officials say even with the increase, Brodhead will still have the lowest tax rate compared to other area districts. Currently the tax amount is $909 for a home valued at $100,000. With the approval of a referendum, the amount would increase to $958 in the 2016-17 school year, and then to $959 for the following year, before dropping back to $905 per $100,000 household for the 2018-19 school year.
The Brodhead district said the purpose is to fund current programs, maintain class sizes, keep a variety of courses available to students and reduce district debt. Without referendum approval, the district projects its deficit will be more than $1.5 million by the 2017-18 school year.
Darlington
Darlington's school board is seeking a $2.2 million operational referendum. The questions asks that the district be allowed to exceed revenues by $1 million for the 2016-17 school year, and up to an additional $2.2 million for the 2017-18 school year and each year following.
The operating referendum is solely for facility needs. The district has decide to ask for the referendum in order to adjust to rising costs accompanied by decreased state aid. It is ongoing, and would therefore not be a bulk sum, but a total broken up by year. Darlington officials plan to use $800,000 of the $1 million they're asking for the 2016-17 year. In 2017-18, they plan to use $1.75 million of the $2.2 million. The following year, they have outlined they would use $1.85 million of the total. Darlington materials on the referendum indicate they would like to "grow into" the $2.2 million amount, and only levy what is needed each year.
Voters passed a five-year referendum in April 2011 that supplied the district with $700,000 per year above its revenue limit.
Juda
There will be two questions before Juda voters: The first requests the school be allowed to borrow $5.7 million for building improvements and the second asks to increase the tax levy by $150,000 for operational costs. School officials said the district is eligible to receive state aid, which would reduce the tax impact at the beginning of the second year of the referendum. Operational costs include curriculum, loan payments, staffing, increased insurance costs and the technology budget.
While the $5.7 million borrowing to be repaid over 20 years is tax neutral, the operational referendum would raise the tax rate for a $100,000 home by $144 as a result of the operational referendum in the first year, the 2016-17 school year. The building referendum would add $0.36 to the tax rate starting the second year, or $36 for a $100,000 house.
Building projects include remodeling underutilized spaces; dealing with asbestos; and making other facility upgrades, such as partial replacement of the roof and updating school security. The district also plans to replace 14-year-old learning materials.
Juda's current debt will end in the 2017-18 school year. The district last went to referendum in 2000 with $4.2 million for a new gym and computer lab.