From Libby Strunz

Monroe

To the Editor:

I am writing to encourage Monroe community members to vote YES to the School District of Monroe referendum on November 8th. Building a new high school is essential to providing a safe place for students to learn and prepare for their futures.

The biggest concern that I hear others express about the referendum is the projected cost. Undoubtedly, $88 million is a significant sum of money, and it is understandable that taxpayers are concerned about this price tag and how it may affect them. Fortunately, the impact of the referendum on taxpayers will be modest. When the mill rate, anticipated state aid, debt repayment, and other factors are taken into account, it is projected that a home valued at $100,000 will have an annual property tax increase of $50 or less ($100 or less increase for a $200,000 home). The average mill rate will actually be less than it was as recently as 2020-2021. Those who are claiming that passing the referendum will cause property taxes to skyrocket are simply incorrect.

We must also consider the financial impact of not passing the referendum. If the referendum fails, a significant amount of money will need to be invested in doing a patchwork of repairs at the current site. These repairs will be costly, and they will simply be small bandages on gaping wounds. The issues of structural degradation, water retention, and outdated systems are too significant to permanently and properly fix, so any repairs done will likely need to be repeated at an ever-increasing cost. In addition, the rising costs of building materials due to inflation means that this project will be far more costly if we attempt to delay it for 5-10 years. Attempting to repair the current high school or delay building a new one is not a sound financial investment.

As you cast your vote on November 8th, keep in mind that the tax impacts of building a new high school now are modest. Voting YES is a wise investment for the betterment of our school district and community.