Dear Editor,

I am voting in favor of the Belleville School District’s operating referendum on November 8th, and I urge you to join me! I want to ensure the school district has the financial resources and flexibility necessary to educate students well. Our school district does a phenomenal job showing up for students every day and providing them with a high-quality education; now it is our turn to show up to the polls and support the school district as voters, parents and residents of the Belleville School District.

I plan to support Belleville’s referendum because:

1: School district levies are based on mill rates. Simply put, a mill rate is the amount of tax you pay per $1,000 in property value. Belleville is decreasing their mill rate from $10.46 to $9.96. The school district is asking for LESS money per taxpayer. This is possible due to new construction within the district that expanded the tax base.

2: The State of Wisconsin’s school funding formula applies revenue limits to all school districts. I want to ensure our local school leaders have the financial resources and flexibility they need to make prudent choices for our students. We know our community best; let’s put the decision making power back in the hands of our local leaders, not the state’s education bureaucracy. There is no mechanism to exceed revenue limits without going to referendum. 82% of Wisconsin school districts have recognized this reality and gone to an operating referendum. It is time our district does the same to remain competitive and up to date with the needs of students and staff alike.

3: We have all experienced firsthand the impact of inflation on groceries, gas and more. Education is not exempt. Teachers deserve a fair cost of living adjustment that ensures we can retain them as one of the most critical assets in the Belleville School District! We all had the opportunity to read earlier this year about the extreme challenges some neighboring districts had in finding teachers (Note: author of letter is referencing an August 2022 article in the Wisconsin State Journal); I do not care to see that phenomena spread to our community.

4: Education is an investment. I want my child and my neighbor’s children to continue to access a world class education with a hometown feel. The Belleville School District is fiscally responsible, proactively communicates, and continues to wow me with the experience they provide our children. I am happy to invest in an institution that is investing in my child daily. I trust district leaders to use our taxpayer dollars wisely.

Please join me in voting YES on the Belleville School District operating referendum when you head to the polls on November 8th. To see a sample ballot and find your polling location, visit https://myvote.wi.gov. Go Wildcats!

Marie Barry,

Town of Montrose Resident and Parent of a Belleville Student