"Shall the School District of Bruce, Rusk and Sawyer Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $600,000 per year for five years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses?" 

"Shall the School District of Bruce, Rusk and Sawyer Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,900,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project consisting of: district-wide capital maintenance, building infrastructure, systems and site improvements; construction of a safe and secure entrance; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?"

This process began a little over a years ago when the district identified the need for a comprehensive facilities plan that would assess our facility condition and provide a timeline for maintenance and/or improvements.  The planning process has included assessing our facility, working with staff, and engaging the community to determine priorities and potential solutions. 

Since early 2024, our District Administration and School Board have:

• completed a detailed facility audit with an independent consultant

• met with and surveyed staff on facility deficiencies

• reviewed the findings and developed a long-range facility plan

• created a community-based Facility Planning Committee to help narrow the focus and identify the highest priorities

• surveyed the entire community to determine  how much of an investment would be supported and guide the final plan proposed to voters

• fully adopted the recommendations presented by the community-based facility planning committee in January 2025

After careful consideration and collaborative efforts, our School Board voted to include two questions on the April 1. 2025 ballot. This two-question referendum aims to address operational budget needs, and key academic and capital maintenance priorities while managing taxpayer dollars wisely.

Our past referendums were OPERATIONAL asking voters to approve additional funding above the annual revenue limit to maintain things like class sizes, programs, and student services. Those funds can only be used for operations, not building improvements.

The 2025 referendum is an OPERATIONAL and CAPITAL referendum asking voters to approve the district to help fund our school district and also to issue debt to pay for facility improvements – such as maintenance, remodeling or additions – that cannot be addressed within our annual budget. Similar to a home mortgage, a capital referendum is typically financed over an extended period of time, often 20 years. 

Over the years, we have been able to address many large-ticket items, such as roofing and boiler replacement, within our regular budget. Throughout this long-range planning process, we've identified several important areas that require larger investment.

Our District has not asked for a capital referendum for building improvements since 1992, over 30 years ago, and we have facility needs that must be addressed soon. These needs, if left unaddressed, will only get worse and lead to costly repairs. Project costs also increase over time, so doing the work sooner rather than later will save our taxpayers money.

With guidance from a facilities planning committee, and feedback from our community and staff, the proposed improvements have been prioritized to proactively address our facility needs to maintain safe, efficient, and well-functioning learning environments.

To maintain reasonable class sizes, top-notch programming, critical student services, and day to day building maintenance.

Enhance Safety & Security

• Remodel Entry Vestibule & Main Office for enhanced entrance security, through better monitoring and control of visitors

• Replace fire alarm system and include addressable voice communication system

• Replace card access control system and add two exterior doors to the system

• Replace outdated camera system with new cameras and storage server, including adding 20 cameras throughout the building.

• Replace the Door #S5 Entry with retaining wall and stair to sidewalk 

Renew Infrastructure

• Repair specific area’s building interiors, including worn ceilings and  floors

• Upgrade mechanical equipment in the woods/metals and auto area; including new exhaust controls, dust collector, and plumbing fixtures

• Replace +35 year old electrical panels throughout the building

• Replace roof sections above auxiliary gym and adjacent classrooms

• Replace 1st & 2nd floor windows on the original portion of the high school building.

• Replace the worn, main door entry system (#16) to the gymnasium 

• Provide tuckpointing and cracked brick replacement to the highest priority areas of the building.

• Rebuild north 1st St entrance drive.

•Resurface parking lots; with improved storm water drainage at this time.  

Modernize Learning & Support Spaces

• Remodel and expand the Business Classroom for improved curriculum options

• Remodel Chemistry Classroom to modernize casework and utilities

• Update tech ed. area by moving metals into autos area, and updating classrooms serving each room with new casework, power & data for fabrication equipment, and windows to shop for better supervision. 

•Update the 1st and 3rd floor restrooms with new finishes.

Approval of both referendum questions would result in an annual estimated tax increase of $18.75 per month for every $100,000 of property value over the current tax rate. 

The two referendum questions break out as follows: 

• Question 1: Approval of this question would result in an annual estimated tax increase of $117 per year (OR $9.75 per month) for every $100,000 of property value.

• Question 2: Approval of this question would result in an annual estimated tax increase of $108 per year (OR $9.00 per month) for every $100,000 of property value. 

If both are approved, our District would be able to address key priorities while keeping the tax rate low compared to neighboring districts.

If this referendum is not approved, our Board of Education will have to review options to meet these needs, as they cannot be addressed within the current annual budget.

Operational budget funding via the State of Wisconsin has not kept up with inflation.  The cost to operate our school is significantly more since COVID.

If left unaddressed, the capital maintenance needs will only get worse and lead to costly repairs. Project costs also increase over time, so doing the work sooner rather than later will save our taxpayers money.

• Register to vote at myvote.wi.gov

• Absentee ballots can be requested at any time via myvote.wi.gov and are mailed out beginning March 11th

• Early in-person voting runs from Tuesday March 18th – Friday March 28th. Check with your local town or village hall for voting hours

• Election day voting is April 1, 2025. Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm