Post Messenger Recorder -

The New Glarus School Board has approved two referendum questions for the November ballot that would not raise the tax rate.

The first question will ask the voters for a recurring referendum to exceed the revenue limit by $500,000, starting in the 2019-20 school year for operating expenses. The funding would be used to deal with the significant increase in enrollment coming to the high school as well as curriculum and facility updates. The high school is expected to grow by at least 90 students in a four-year time span, from 234 students in 2016-17 to a projection of 326 students by 2020-21. The District has enough classroom space now that 5th grade has moved to the elementary, but needs funding for additional operational expenses including hiring additional staff and continuing to update facilities and curriculum. If this referendum passes, it will not raise the tax rate.

The second question will ask voters for a non-recurring (one year) referendum to exceed the revenue limit by $1,200,000 during the 2018-19 school year to purchase land. The Board is exploring the possibility of buying land because space is already limited in the Village and the District needs to plan for the future. The specific piece of land the District is considering cannot be shared at this time due to negotiations, but will be shared prior to the referendum. Due to referendum timelines, a decision had to be made now about whether to proceed, and the District decided that it was important to move forward in planning for the future. If this referendum passes, it also will not raise the tax rate.

If the District is able to acquire land, it’s important to note that there are not any specific plans for the land at this time. Last year a community group brought forward a petition with over 200 signatures asking the School Board to consider adding additional facilities. A Facilities Study is currently being conducted by Bray Architects to review the current buildings and educational spaces. The District also anticipates gathering extensive staff and community input over the next couple years in order to develop a long-term Facilities Plan.

Fortunately, the School District of New Glarus has been fiscally responsible by paying off additional debt and keeping the tax (mill) rate steady for six years in a row. Those measures have put the district in a position where the two referendum questions above can be financed without increasing the tax rate.