Unfunded state mandates, decrease in state funding contributed to deficit
By Bob Peryea
Correspondent
The Big Foot High School Board of Education is finalizing plans regarding how to inform the public about a funding referendum that will be on the April ballot in the district.
The referendum calls for a recurring $300,000 for the 2013-2014 school year and an additional $350,000 for the 2014-2015 school. The $650,000 would become a permanent part of the school’s tax base.
Principal Mike Hinske, in explaining how the referendum would affect homeowners, said, “It will be important to emphasize that the debt on the school will be retired in 2014.”
Boardmember Ed Hayden said, “There is only an actual increase for one year. Then the tax rate goes back down.”
The total increase in tax is expected to be $0.24 per $1,000 of value. This translates to $24.00 per year on a $100,000 home and $48.00 for a $200,000 residence.
“We have been running at a deficit for about the last three years,” Hayden said. “We have had to use the fund balance to balance our budget.”
The fund balance is the district’s minimum account balance that should be maintained. If the fund balance dips below 15%-16%, it can negatively effect short and long-term interest rates.
The total tax rate for the school is anticipated to be as shown in the accompanying table.
In explaining the need for the additional funds, the Board’s statement will likely read: “In order to maintain the quality of educational programs that we have been providing and that Bigfoot School District residents have come to expect,” this request for increased revenues is necessary.
The school district has encountered a number of different issues in funding recently. There have been several unfunded mandates from Madison, including changes required to close graduation gaps, testing gaps and other educational requirements. This combined, with significant decreases in state funding, has created a deficit in the school’s budget.
In 2011-12, the district had a deficit of $681 per student. This was despite program cuts, staffing cuts and deferments of maintenance and upgrades. The shortage was made up by dipping into the fund balance.
“In order for the students to thrive in the 21st century, it will be very important for us to have levels of funding so we can keep up with technology and other changes,” Board President Ann Zubow said.
Recent upgrades in the school that have been necessary, but have contributed to the deficits, included wi-fi throughout the school, an art lab, and mandated courses.
In the future, state mandates will require the hiring of new staff to assist underachieving populations in the school to close the gaps in their educational performance.
Further technology upgrades will be required in order to keep students abreast of the current job market. Changes to the school’s entrances will need to be made in order to further increase security for the students and staff. Also, Hinske pointed out, there is some deferred maintenance that will need to taken care of.
Informational meetings to be held
The board will host two district-wide informational meetings.
The first meeting will be on Feb. 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the high school. There will be an all-school dinner that evening for students and parents, along with information mini-sessions from various departments of the school.
The second meeting will be held at the high school on March 11 at 7 p.m.
There will also be a district-wide mailing explaining revenues, expenditures and other information that will be of interest to voters. That is expected to arrive in area homes before the Feb. 18 meeting.
Each board member will also be reaching out to the community through local forums that will be announced as they are scheduled.
Board members are taking responsibility to respond to different areas of the district. Citizens are invited to contact board members directly with questions.
In Sharon village and township, Ed Hayden is available by email at eahayden@bigfoot.k12.wi.us. The village of Walworth can contact Kim Arntz at kaarntz@ bigfoot.k12.wi.us. The Reek/Linn area can contact Ann Zubow at aczubow@bigfoot.k12.wi.us. Gretchen McCarthy is available at gemccarthy@bigfoot.k12.wi.us to assist voters in the Fontana area. Sue Pruessing is available to voters in Walworth Township and Delavan Township at smpruessing@bigfoot.k12.wiu.us. Citizens not sure whom to contact were invited to reach out to any School Board member.
The vote on the referendum will take place on the regular Spring election day, April 2.
