Referendum is a go at $21.5 million

The Cedar Grove-Belgium School Board last week unanimously approved putting a $21.5 million referendum on the April ballot.

Approval of an expected April referendum would increase the school tax rate by an estimated 44 cents to $9.04 per $1,000 of equalized value, one penny more than in 2019-20. That means the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $88 more in school taxes a year.

The plan calls for infrastructure improvements across the district.

At the elementary and middle schools, building systems, such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems original to the 60-year-old building would be replaced. A new traffic flow system would be implemented to improve safety, and a music room would be added.

The middle school kitchen would be upgraded, and the band and gym bleachers would be updated to Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The pool and auditorium would also be upgraded.

Those projects total $14.5 million.

At the high school, the technical education and family and consumer science areas would get improvements and the roof and floors would be replaced. New water heaters, boilers and ventilation systems would be installed, and internet infrastructure would be updated.

That work costs $7 million.

A community survey last fall showed support for those plans. Of 680 responses (26%), 72% replied definitely or probably yes to supporting $21.5 million in upgrades. Sixteen percent of respondents said probably or definitely no.

In a further breakdown, 83% of staff members, 78% of parents and 63% of non-staff and non-parent residents support the plan.

Residents were less inclined to build a new pool and new auditorium, which the community survey addressed.

 Adding a new auditorium at the high school, which would replace the one at the middle school, at an estimated additional tax rate increase of $152 a year for a $200,000 home, received less support.

Only 37% of residents agreed with that plan, while 39% said no. Of staff members, 48% said yes and 30% said no. Forty-seven percent of parents said yes and 29% said no. Twenty-six percent of non-parent, non-staff members said yes and 51% said no.

Replacing the outdated middle school pool with one at the high school that would raise school taxes by $156 a year for a $200,000 home also didn’t receive as much support.

Forty-four percent of residents said yes while 36% said no. Fifty-six percent of staff members liked the plan while 25% did not, and 58% of parents supported the idea while 23% did not. Thirty percent of non-parent, non-staff residents agreed to a new pool while 49% did not.

The School Board last month reached a consensus to not include the pool or auditorium as a separate question in the referendum.

Dan Bruhn said people who don’t want a new pool but don’t want to get rid of the old pool may “vote down the whole thing.”

Bruhn said the district has to back up its rhetoric — “if you say something you better deliver.”

“What in the survey data — what tells us it’s a wise thing, a low-risk thing to put (a new pool) on the ballot?” he asked. “We have data that this question is going to fail.”

Of the $21.5 million, $2 million is included to upgrade the pool, which is leaking water every day.

An idea to hold a referendum was sparked a few years ago during a financial presentation by Lisa Voisin, managing director of Robert W. Baird of Milwaukee, that highlighted debt reduction that would reduce the tax rate to $8.60 per $1,000 of equalized value.

The district could spend as much as $16.6 million without raising taxes.

The district hired Bray Architects to do a facility study and develop building upgrade plans.

Two community forums, along with building tours, were held in spring to present facility plans, take questions and suggestions from residents.

The election is April 5. The School Board had to approve the referendum 75 days before the election.