Editor’s note: The following commentary has been submitted for publication by School District of Fort Atkinson Board of Eduction President Kory Knickrehm.
On Tuesday, April 2, residents of the School District of Fort Atkinson will vote on an operational referendum question. If it’s approved, the district will be able to reallocate existing funds of $6.5 million per year for the next three years.
This referendum is different from last spring’s referendum.
Simply put, we are in a different situation than last year. The overall amount requested is less. We are not asking for new money, but simply reallocating the money that we already have. Upon successful passage of the referendum in April, the allocation of funds would be approved for only three years and would end at that time. A return to voters would be required to continue access to approved funds beyond that time.
These operational funds are critical for the school district.
The Wisconsin funding formula that determines the amount of money schools can receive does not provide sufficient funding for current student programs and services. Because of this, public schools across the State are turning to their local communities for the funding they need. With a continued priority for student safety and well-being, the district would leverage the referendum funds to preserve current programs, services and staffing relative to enrollment, maintain current programs and course offerings, and retain high-quality teachers and staff.
The District responded to our community’s call for a reduction in school taxation.
The School Board recently lowered your property tax levy rate for the 2023-24 school year representing an average of 12.21% decrease and the lowest mill rate in a decade for the School District of Fort Atkinson. This lower tax rate was made possible by $3.3 million dollars in cuts following the failure of the operational referendum question last spring. This lower tax rate will remain in place, even if the operational referendum is approved by voters on April 2, 2024.
This referendum would not increase the current tax levy rate.
Maintaining a stable tax rate has been a priority for the School District of Fort Atkinson. To accomplish that for this year with the end of the previous 2020 operational referendum, the district prepaid $7 million in debt. We are now asking our community permission to shift $6.5 million of those dollars for operations. Because of this, it allows us to seek an operational referendum without increasing the school’s tax levy rate. We simply can’t move money that we already have without this referendum.
The district and board are committed to providing clear and precise information about the operational referendum.
It is so important for voters to be knowledgeable about the referendum. For additional information please join us for a Referendum Community Information Session on Feb. 21, at 5:30 p.m. at Fort Atkinson High School or on March 13, at 5:30 p.m. at Purdy Elementary School or visit: www.fortschools.org/vote.
We look forward to more conversation about the future of 1Fort schools in the weeks ahead.
Kory Knickrehm
President of the Fort Atkinson School Board
Kory Knickrehm, file photo/Kim McDarison.
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