Referenda News: Germantown & Racine

Two interesting looks at Referenda activity:

• Tom Kertscher finds that Germantown residents are attempting to raise funds for a High School expansion privately first:

  But supporters of the music programs realize that in Germantown - and throughout the Milwaukee area - most borrowing referendums for school building projects have failed in the past year and a half. So they are trying a new approach: Before asking for public money, they plan to raise private money to help fund additions to the high school.

  Germantown parent John Dawson, who is leading plans for a music referendum, said the message to taxpayers will be "we need your help, but we're not looking for a handout."

• Alice Chang reports that Racine voters approved a $6.45M one year operating referendum (a $17.8M two year question failed this past April):

  The reprieve from financial pressure will be relatively short-lived. The district still faces a $13.4 million shortfall next year and likely will be asking voters again for a boost in funding.

  Rather than resting on the success of the spending referendum, School Board members already were looking ahead to future challenges.

  "We have an obligation to make sure we keep an eye on being fiscally responsible," said board member Randy Bangs, who added that the passage of the referendum proposal was just one battle. "The bigger prize is a better district, which needs the support of the entire community."

  Bangs said the board will continue to search for ways to make the district more efficient so that next year, if finances necessitate it, the district will attempt to pass a spending referendum for a minimal amount.

• Brent Killackey has more on the Racine Referendum

Posted by Jim Zellmer at June 22, 2005 6:30 AM
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