(Please note, this posting was written in response to the 2007 referendum. The concept of better maintenance, however, is just as pertinent today.)
Have you noticed the definite correlation between long time residents = a NO vote, and newer residents = a YES vote? There are exceptions of course, but it is generally true. I would also say the YES vote group does not understand the usual sequence of referendums. Lets just say,
third time’s a charm, but sometimes it takes five referendum attempts, such as the Swanson reopening before the public thinks the district got it right..
Those of us who have lived here a while know the reason why. Those of you who are newcomers probably wonder why more people aren’t supporting your cause.
Maybe this will help.
The pro-referendum sentiment is that it is
up to every generation to support the schools. A generation is usually considered to be 20 years. I have lived here 21.
I added up the various referendums people in the 20 year residency range have already paid for: $29,275,000. If you add in the debt servicing, it is probably close to $50,000,000 that residents of 20 years have or are still paying out on.Have I already “paid my dues”? What about the retired Elmbrook residents who have lived here for 30, 40, or 50 years? Can you see why we are not too enthusiastic about an additional $188 million by the time all the interest is added on?
Another selling point this administration and pro referendum group is touting is that this $108.8 Million referendum is a 30 - 50 year solution. I ask that you look at the referendums from the last 42 years and look how the monies have been spent and how the plans have changed in that time.
Long time residents have seen many schools come and go over the years. They have seen and funded schools built at the wrong time and then paid for them to be altered again to suit a different grade level. The administration has moved its location from North Ave. to Lilly and Hope. Burleigh was a middle school, now is a grade school. They have seen district property and facilities sold for a song.
Wisconsin Hills, built as a middle school but not really needed, soon became an elementary school, which caused the closing of several neighborhood schools. The Swanson/Wisconsin Hills referendum funded reopening Swanson and switching Wisconsin Hills back to a middle school. The 3 story addition to Central is slated to be razed. I believe it is less than 30 years old.
Elmbrook’s facilities were expensive to build. Razing and rebuilding is even more costly. We must change our course from wasteful razing and rebuilding of our facilities and move to a more sustainable plan. We cannot continue taxing at such high amounts for referendum after referendum.
Matt Gibson says we cannot afford to maintain our facilities to the extent they need. I say we cannot afford not to. His idea of “maintaining” is to do the least and then just go to the taxpayers repeatedly to replace what we have already paid for. Remember, we are still paying for the replacement of 2 existing elementary schools and only just finished paying for Swanson/Wisc. Hills.
It is far more reasonable to spend an extra $1 million a year and make some of the repairs and capital improvements our buildings need than to be taxed for $10 million a year for this referendum and bonding for the next 20 years.By increasing the capital improvement budget 100%, in a short time, we could put in a new science lab, improve the library or remodel bathrooms. The cost would be about .13 / $1,000. The yearly cost for that fabled average home would be $43.55. There are no added interest charges. It is the best bang for the buck for the taxpayers.Breaking projects down to smaller increments is also beneficial to the students. Because these projects can be done over the summer, there is less disruption to the students during the school year.
Nicolet has adopted a pay as you go plan as has
New Berlin. Nicolet started with a small referendum 20 years ago, and has added another $5 to $7 million in yearly $500,000 upgrades. New Berlin does theirs with just $100,000 a year.
Look at the
debt history for our school district. The referendum costs keep going up every time.
Taxpayers cannot keep this up. It would be far better to do better upkeep!
ONLY 1 MORE DAY UNTIL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TUESDAY, April 3, 2007!
Links: Brookfield7, Betterbrookfield, Vicki Mckenna
