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Voters asked to OK school referendum
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BRODHEAD - For the second time this spring, Brodhead residents will go to the polls to decide if the school district can exceed the state-mandated revenue limits.

The referendum would be for operational expenses.

The first referendum vote, held Feb. 16, failed 55 to 45 percent. The four-year referendum asked residents to increase the revenue limits by $635,000 in the 2010-11 school year; $810,000 in the 2011-12 school year; $855,000 in the 2012-13 school year; and $1,285,000 in the 2013-14 school year.

The board voted Feb. 18 to downsize the referendum question. As a result, voters are now asked to allow the district to exceed the state-mandated revenue caps by $393,000 in 2010-11; $567,000 in 2011-12; and $797,100 in 2012-13.

The tax rate for 2010-11 would be $8.27, which is lower than this year's rate of $8.45. In the second year of the referendum, taxpayers will pay $9.52 per thousand dollars of equalized value. In the third year, the tax rate will increase to $10.16.

If the referendum doesn't pass, the district would have to make about $260,000 in staff cuts to help make up the expected $393,000 deficit for the 2010-11 school year.

The board unanimously decided to eliminate one elementary school teacher; one part-time middle or high school English teacher; one middle school or high school math teacher; one of the three district guidance counselors; and reduce the Family and Consumer Education and ag education teacher positions to part-time if the referendum fails.

No sports or extra-curricular activities would be eliminated next year if the referendum fails, school officials said.

The school board voted March 10 to eliminate an administrative position at the end of the 2011 contract - regardless of the referendum's outcome. The district hasn't determined which of the nine administrator positions would be eliminated.

Brodhead teachers and the district also agreed March 10 to a pay freeze for the 2010-11 school year, which would save the district about $70,000. Additionally, administrators have also agreed to a pay freeze, which would save the district another $17,000 for the 2010-11 school year.