From Dan Mulder

Monroe

To the Editor:

This upcoming school referendum will not fully demonstrate the full financial impacts on property taxes in Monroe. There are varied numbers being touted by school administration on what the tax impacts will be if this referendum is approved. My house has an assessed value of $319k. I estimate my property taxes will increase by $600-700/yr. If you remember I previously said my taxes would increase by $700/yr with the new HS. The school admin said they would increase by $99/yr. When the new HS referendum was approved ($88m) my taxes increased $638. What is NOT being discussed is the massive county debts that are massing with no referendums (the county/city boards simply approved these):

●  $84m new jail.

●  $60m new county shop/garage

●  $60m new sewer/water system upgrades

●  $14m court house renovations (that were estimated at $3m).

200 students have open enrolled at other schools creating a school district loss in state funding of about $12k/student x 200 = $2.4m. This referendum seeks $2.7m. Think about it; Solve the open enrollment issue and you’ve solved most of the referendum problem. There are a large portion of area residents who are retired/on fixed income whose income simply can’t bridge these massive tax increases. New Glarus and Monticello have new large housing developments going in. If Monroe thinks the population will increase with large property tax increases and declining school enrollment vs moving to New Glarus or Monticello they are sadly mistaken. If you’re one of Monroe’s “Millionaire club” I get it and why you support this but very few here enjoy your income levels. Realtors supporting this doesn’t make any sense to me as with these escalating property taxes and interest rates, coupled with declining enrollments/population who will buy a house here?

VOTE NO: Far too much debt in too short of a time frame. Not sustainable.