More On The Referendum

As some of you may know, the board adopted a resolution to bring a referendum question to voters in this April’s election.  We are bringing the question to voters this April due to the fact that there is no planned election in the fall of 2013 and if the referendum does not pass, we can make changes and bring the question a second time in the spring of 2014.  To be clear, this referendum will replace the two that expire at the end of next year (2013-2014) and will take effect in 2014-2015.  The two referenda we currently have total $450,000.00 per year in additional revenue cap authority; the resolution adopted by the board will ask voters to approve a four year, non-recurring referendum for $500,000.00 in the first two years and $550,000.00 in the second two years.  The rationale behind the increase of $50,000.00 from the current amount, and again in the second two years of the new referendum is largely due to the increased costs of doing business in addition to multiple facility improvements and upgrades planned over time.  The positive news regarding the slightly larger amount is that district residents will see a lower mill rate than in recent years primarily due to the district becoming debt free at the conclusion of this year.  Initial estimates indicate that if the new referendum is approved, the mill rate would range between 11.0 and 12.0 with a worst case scenario at around 12.5 and a best case scenario around 10.0.  Once the State’s biennial budget is unveiled, we will have a much better grasp on specifically what we are looking at for the immediate future and subsequently, the forecasting of what is to come throughout the years of the new referendum.  I am confident that the range described above is a solid estimate.

As in the past, the district will be conducting informational meetings to discuss the referendum and its effect on residents.  These meetings will be held in the High School IMC at 7:00pm on Thursday, February 21^st; Tuesday, March 12^th; and Monday, March 25^th.     

Please contact me at any time with questions.

Sincerely,

Craig G. Broeren

District Administrator

715-455-1683 ext. 119

broeren@prairiefarm.k12.wi.us