VernonReporter

What you need to know if you are voting in Vernon County

VERNON COUNTY, Wis. – Here is some information on what to expect when you go to the polls in Vernon County. Some areas of the county are reporting almost half of registered voters have already voted but the polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. if you have not voted.

Unsure about where to go to vote? MyVote.wi.gov allows you to find your polling place by putting in your address. It also has tools to see a sample ballot so you can see exactly what you will see at your polling place, and information on what you will need to vote, forms of ID etc. Wisconsin is a same day registration state so you can register online or at the polls, but you must have a valid ID and provide a proof of residence document (utility bill etc.).

There are few operational school referendums on the ballot tomorrow and three townships have referendums asking voters for permission to appoint, rather than elect their town clerks.

Schools

With state levy limits making it increasingly difficult for school districts to keep up with the cost of operations they have been put in the position to either ask for the ability to exceed those limits, or cut staff/services. This will be the third election cycle this year with large numbers of districts asking taxpayers to approve increased funding for schools, totaling about $6 billion across the state. 

At least 192 of the state’s 421 school districts have asked, or will ask, a referendum question in 2024. About 60 percent of referendums on the April ballot were approved by voters across the state.

In Vernon County, Viroqua, De Soto and La Farge all have referendum questions on the ballot. Viroqua is asking for permission to exceed their limits by $3.1 million each year for three years. De Soto is asking to exceed their levy limits by $1.5 million for the 2024-2025 school year, by $1.9 million for the 2025-2026 school year and $2.1 million for the 2026-2027 school year. La Farge wants to exceed their limit by $300,000 per year for three years, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year and ending with the 2026-2027 school year.

Information on the De Soto Schools referendum and be found here.

Information on the Viroqua referendum can be found here.

Information on the La Farge Schools referendum can be found here.


Viroqua Schools Referendum

In Viroqua, District Administrator Tom Burkhalter said they surveyed the community to gauge the level of support for exceeding revenue limits. The district conducted a feedback survey in May and received 873 responses, with over 60 percent supporting $1.3 million or more. Burkhalter said the most selected choice was $1.5 million.

The survey algorithm weighted non-parents and non-staff votes more, and even with that weighting, 56 percent of non-parents and non-staff supported the $1.3 million referendum.

Only 15.5 percent of total respondents said they would not support the referendum at all.

Burkhalter said the survey results show “clear and overwhelming evidence that $1.3 million was what the community was asking us to ask.”

According to the meeting context, Tom Burkhalter stated that if the district had to make further budget cuts without the referendum passing, it would lead to “larger class sizes and reduced academic and extracurricular offerings.” Specifically, Burkhalter mentioned that the district has already had to leave six teaching staff positions unfilled due to budgetary constraints, and further cuts would mean they do not have the teaching staff to maintain the current academic and extracurricular programs.

Viroqua Schools Business Manager Chris Rozeske said the financial impact of the proposed $1.3 million referendum would be a 27-cent increase to the mill rate. Specifically, Rozeske explained that this 27-cent increase would equate to an annual increase of about $68 for a property valued at the district’s average of $249,000. This works out to an increase of around $5.67 per month.
Rozeske also noted that due to recent property value increases in the district, the actual mill rate impact is likely to be lower than this initial projection. He stated the current mill rate is around $7.61 and is expected to decrease further due to the property value increases.

Viroqua Superintendent of Schools Tom Burkhalter explains why they are asking to exceed levy limits

La Farge Schools referendum information


De Soto Schools referendum:

  • The District has not asked the community to support an operational referendum for more than 20 years. The first single year operational referendum was in 2000 for $280,000 to remove a fund balance deficit. The second single year operational referendum was in 2003 for $71,000 to purchase property.
  • The District has also held two facility referendums, one in 2010 ($2,585,000) for remodeling and improvements financed with the Federal Stimulus Act which reimbursed the district for 100% of the interest costs. The other facility referendum was held in  2013 ($4,950,000) for building additions, renovating and remodeling of the De Soto Middle/High school.

When did the School Board begin discussions about the need for an operational referendum?

The School Board began discussions during the 2022-2023 school year regarding the need for an operational referendum. The Board determined the District was fiscally able to meet educational and operational objectives and goals through the 2023-2024 school year. The Board deferred the operational question until April 2, 2024 allowing for an updated analysis of state funding, inflationary impacts, declining enrollment trends, ESSER funding expiration (September 2024). That referendum failed and now the Board is asking for a three year non recurring referendum on November 5, 2024. 

How has the District been financially responsible?

  • Since 2000 the District’s commitment to developing a strong general fund balance has seen the fund balance grow from a $280,000 deficit to $3,042,051 eliminating the need for short-term borrowing in the past 4 years.
  • The district has also set aside $151,000 for capital facility projects in Fund 46.
  • The District prepaid outstanding debt to save interest costs.
  • District staff continually apply for grants with the District being awarded a $500,000 FEMA Grant, and grants for food service, AG/FFA, art financial awards, eRate, REAP, and Kohl Teacher Fellowship awards along with many other smaller grants that support classroom and field trip education.
  • New lighting systems have been installed in all schools to reduce energy costs.
  • Roofing projects have eliminated leaks and related internal damage, and quality maintenance has extended the life of school building infrastructure.
  • Over the past 12 years the district has reduced staff by 16 positions including teachers, support staff, administration and auxiliary staff.
  • The District’s fiscal responsibility resulted in the De Soto Area School District receiving an A+/Stable Outlook in August of 2023 from S&P Global Rating, a national independent bond rating company.
  • It is also noteworthy that the District’s property tax levy for the 2023-24 school year was the lowest tax levy in the past 10 years. 

Are the salaries and wages of employees the reason for the funding issue?

No. Of the six Vernon County School Districts (Cashton, De Soto, Hillsboro, Kickapoo, La Farge, and Viroqua), the De Soto Area School District  has the lowest teacher/certified staff base pay.  

What will the November 5, 2024 Referendum money be used for? 

The Referendum dollars will be used to continue to provide high quality education

and offer options and opportunities for students and families. The money will be used for the day to day operations of the school district and to maintain current educational and co-curricular programs.  The referendum will allow the district to balance its budget as they keep up with fixed cost increases and the decrease in state funding. A passed referendum will also allow the district to address unexpected budget/maintenance issues/situations as they arise. 

What happens if the November 5, 2024 Referendum does not pass?

  • Over the next three school years, the School Board would have to prepare a budget with an anticipated $5,237,000 budget deficit. Over 5 million dollars of budget cuts will need to be made over the next three school years. 
  • The School Board would need to prioritize reductions in district-wide operations, consider reductions in staffing and/or not replacing staff, reduce course options and field trips all impacting student academic opportunities, defer the technology replacement cycle for students and staff, defer curriculum purchases, postpone school building maintenance and improvement projects, reduce/eliminate co-curricular activites and reduce transportation.
  •  Reduce the fund balance which would weaken the district’s sound financial position. 
  • A failed referendum means significant and impactful cuts across the school district.

Vernon County Offices On The Ballot

There are four Vernon County offices up for re-election and all four incumbents are running unopposed. County Clerk Jerry Pedretti, Treasurer Karen Delap, and Regsiter of Deeds Lindsey Formanek are all running as Republicans, and District Attorney Angela Palmer-Fisher is running as a Democrat.

Township Referendums

The townships of Stark, Bergen and Wheatland all have referendums on the ballot on their township asking voters for permission to appoint, rather than elect their town clerk. Several townships in Vernon County have been unable to fill their clerk positions and the switch is seen as way to make it easier to fill those jobs.

Town or Bergen referendum question:

Shall the person holding the office of town clerk and town treasurer; or combined office of town clerk and town treasurer, in the Town of Bergen, Vernon County, be appointed by the Town Board?

Town of Stark referendum question:

Shall the person holding the office of Town Clerk in the Town of Stark be appointed by the Town Board?

Town of Wheatland referendum question:

Shall the person holding the office of Town Clerk for the Town of Wheatland be appointed by the town board?

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