Bonduel getting word out on school referendum

A half-dozen Bonduel School District residents attended an information meeting about the referendum on the April 4 ballot Monday at the high school, but Administrator Patrick Rau is not worried about the low turnout.

The district has been going to the people instead of waiting for them to come to scheduled meetings.

Rau said presentations about the need for the referendum have been made to the Cecil Village Board and Washington Town Board, along with the Cecil Fire Department, Bonduel Lions Club and other civic groups.

On April 4, residents will be asked to increase the district’s tax rate by $1.80 per $1,000 of equalized valuation, up from the current $9.55, in a measure that would give the district up to $1 million annually for the next three years. If the proposal is approved, property owners would pay an additional $180 annually for a property valued at $100,000.

The tax rate probably will be higher than the $11.35 estimated, however, because of factors such as enrollment and state aid formulas.

At Monday’s meeting, “a fair amount of questions revolved around the state funding formula and trying to understand how schools are funded,” Rau said during an interview Wednesday, noting that half of the district’s operating budget is funded through state aid.

The district estimated a $400,000 budget deficit for the 2017-18 school year in January. The projected deficit swells to $685,000 in 2018-19, according to Rau, and $1.3 million for 2019-20.

If the referendum does not pass, Rau anticipates cuts to staff and programs will have to take place in order to balance the budget.

“We let folks know that the $1 million is just to maintain programs as we have them,” Rau said. “We’re doing our best to communicate with people.”

That communication has also included presenting information on the district’s website, social media such as Facebook, and handing out fliers at the district’s scholarship dinner and auction.

“I’d like to think that people are aware of it,” Rau said. “We probably don’t get as many people at our meetings because we go out to talk to people.”

Rau said he has not heard any outright opposition to the referendum, but people who have not given an endorsement have asked plenty of questions to make sure they have the facts when they go to the polls.

Rau said he invites any organization that would like to find out more about the referendum to call him at the district office, 715-758-4861.