NEILLSVILLE BOARD SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 -- 2:26 PM
As budgets tighten, more and more area schools are turning to revenue cap exemption referenda to make ends meet.The Neillsville school board are expected to decide Monday if they will send a referendum to voters this September. They are seeking input on the issue, and encourage the public to attend Monday's meeting, which will start at 8 p.m. in the Middle School PIT.
Last month, the board seemed to show support for a 5-year, $300,000 cap exemption referendum.
If approved Monday, the question could go before voters during the September Primary.
[b]MOST AREA SCHOOL SEEK HELP[/b]
We did a quick check of area schools, and found most already have exemptions to the state-imposed cap in place.
Neillsville voters approved cap exemptions in 1996 and 1998, and technically operate $500,000 above their cap, though administrator John Gaier says most of that money has subsequently been lost due to declining enrollments.
Voters in the Granton school district approved a recurring $350,000 referendum in 2004. Superintendent Rick Rehm says the board is not considering any further referenda in the near future.
Greenwood voters approved a 5-year, $500,000 referendum in 2005.
Loyal is the only school district in the area that currently doesn't operate with a revenue cap exemption referendum in place. The board there has had numerous discussions about going to voters with one, but it seems unlikely that will happen this fall.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.