Back to Schools
In the upper right hand corner of the ballot that voters will be provided on Tuesday, November 8th is a one sentence question that holds 62 words, a few important numbers, and the future of Eau Claire’s public school system:
Shall the Eau Claire Area School District, Chippewa, Dunn and Eau Claire Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $5,860,000 for the 2016-2017 school year and for each of the succeeding 14 school years thereafter, for non-recurring purposes consisting of staff, building maintenance, safety and security improvements, class size, technology, and debt service for capital improvement projects?
If that sounds too complicated, let Eau Claire School Board President Chris Hambuch-Boyle explain…
“I think most people have to hear something several times before the importance comes through,” Hambuch-Boyle said. “Part of that is due to the speed at which we all live our lives. Most are shocked when they find out that we receive $418.00 below the state average in pupil funding and that we have been losing per pupil revenue since we were locked into revenue (spending) caps back in 1993. We were a conservative spending district back then and still are today.”
Referenda have become increasingly vital across the state as school districts struggle to make budgetary ends meet in a school funding process that determines both a district’s needs and its financial compensation. “I invite community members to go to our web site and view the Executive Summary of our budget,” Hambuch-Boyle said. “When compared to other districts our size in the state we are at the bottom in spending for both resources and administration. Our only recourse to make up the difference and get done what we need to do in providing a 21st century education is going to referendum. It is important that everyone knows that a Yes vote on the referendum questions will allow us to make up the $418.00 per pupil that the ECASD is not getting as compared to the state average for most of the 424 districts in the state.”
The referendum seeks to address the school district’s immediate financial deficit of 3.9 million dollars, and its long-term needs.
“Many in the community have questioned the 15 years of the referendum. We explain that it is a two part question within one question allowing the ECASD to also go out to debt to fund our deferred maintenance allowing less impact over time on our taxpayers. We will pay off that debt using the referendum over the 15 years.”
One would imagine that a ballot question of such local importance would dominate every voter’s radar screen, but Hambuch-Boyle said that the school district is not taking that as a given.
“I have had great conversations across Eau Claire at both gatherings and doors and feel most positive that our community wants to continue providing an education for the 11, 202 students we serve and have been serving for over 100 years.
“It is my hope that all of our district families are aware of the upcoming referendum but connecting with all of our community members is a daunting task. Over a year ago, when the board started talking about the high need of going out to referendum to fund our local public schools we talked deeply about making this entire process very transparent for our taxpayers. We decided to do a two-pronged approach of informing our community about the needs that we have that our budget no longer meets AND letting our community know how our needs/unmet budget needs are a result of a very broken state funding system for public schools
“Since August 25 to November 5 we have recorded 90 community gatherings around the topic of our upcoming referendum. It is our goal to go anywhere and talk with everyone about the referendum and get all questions answered. Our community support group, Support Eau Claire Public Schools (SECPS), are doing lit drops, getting yard signs out, information tables around town/university and school board members are knocking doors with additional information. All community gatherings are facilitated by both the district, board and/or SECPS member. More gatherings will be added up until the vote on November 8.”
Hambuch-Boyle said that, should the referendum fail, the district’s needs persist, and costs continue to mount.
“Anything that is kicked down the road will cost more in the future but our cost is twofold: one is the cost of deferred maintenance always costs more down the road, but the cost of not having the best and brightest for our children will impact deeply and this impact cannot be recovered. It will also cost way more down the road in government assistance and law enforcement. WI spends way more on prisons than they do for public education. We need to reverse that concept.”
Abby Johnson, Business Manager for the ECASD, points out that the aid package just verified by the state has actually softened the impact for the current taxpayer year.
“In 16-17 our state aid increased, so before the referendum our tax levy decreased from $9.40 in 15-16 to $8.85 in 16-17,” said Johnson. “If the referendum passes the mill rate would increase by .95 making the tax levy $9.80 for 16-17.”
Which means, that for this December least, the actual tax rate would only increase by 40 cents per $1000 of property valuation.
For more information check the Referendum’s FAQ or watch the full version of the documentary: Road to Referendum
Steve Betchkal
Senior Videojournalist
Chippewa Valley Community Television
