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What is the referendum asking?
The single referendum question is asking for three things:
These three requests are part of one referendum question that is on the ballot for Tuesday, November 7.
Is this the same referendum the voters defeated last
year?
It is not the same as the 2005 referendum.
The new school and the refinancing of existing debt are new this year.
Leopold School is part of both referenda. In 2005, one of the three questions was for $14.5 million to build an additional school on the Leopold site. That was defeated.
This year, the question is asking to move the financing of the full cost — $2.76 million — for an addition to Leopold School out from under the state-imposed revenue cap. As you can see by comparing the $14.5 million to the $2.76 million, the current addition was scaled down from the 2005 proposal.
People say enrollment is declining.
In fact, Madison School District enrollment has been
stable. K-12 enrollment has been between 24,000 and 25,000 students
since 1994, and is projected to stay in that same range for the next five
years.
Why do we need to build a new school?
There are a number of new developments on the far west side, where the new
school will be built. And new homes are continuing to be built in that
same area of the school district.
View the Location of the
Proposed School ![[PDF File]](/img/pdf-sm.gif){kind=small}
In fact, the Madison Department of Planning and Development projects that over 13,000 new dwelling units will be constructed in the three neighborhoods closest to the site of the new school. For comparison, in all of Middleton there were 7,400 dwelling units in 2000.
This is about adding capacity by building an elementary school closer to where students in these 3 neighborhoods reside.
That's new homes. What about student enrollments?
The district projects enrollments up to five years ahead
and it also calculates maximum school capacities. Based on the most recent
projections, there will be 193 more students than there will be seats in
all the elementary schools in the Memorial and West attendance areas four
years from now, 2010-11. The school capacity includes the addition at
Leopold.
Is there recent history similar to this situation?
The new growth on the far west side is similar to the growth near the
current Chavez School, which was built in 2001 in a new development.
Chavez has a student capacity of 583. In its first year, the enrollment
was 411. In 2005-06, the enrollment was 594: 11 over capacity. By
2008-09, Chavez is projected to have 698 students, 19% over capacity.
Why can't we use the space in schools on the East
side?
The East Attendance Area Demographics and Long Range Facility Needs Task
Force and the Memorial and West Attendance Area Demographics and Long Range
Facility Needs Task Force both looked at busing students from the near west
side to the near east side. Both groups did not recommend this strategy.
The Memorial and West Task Force said doing so:
There were other reasons listed. The Task Forces' final reports and all other records of their work is available online at http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/boe/longrange/
If the referendum passes, what is the boundary plan in the
Memorial and West attendance areas?
On August 28, the Board of Education adopted Option CP3a as a conceptual
plan of what will happen if the referendum passes, subject to new
enrollment projections and future Board of Education policy changes.
Option CP3a can be seen at
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/boe/longrange/CP3a.pdf
If the referendum fails, what is the boundary plan in the
Memorial and West attendance areas?
On August 28, the Board of Education adopted Option CP2a as a conceptual
plan of what will happen if the referendum fails, subject to new enrollment
projections and future Board of Education policy changes.
Option CP2a can be seen at
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/boe/longrange/CP2a.pdf
According to this option, in order to gain capacity without a new school, a projected 225 students will move and program changes will be made. Examples of program changes from CP2a are that art and music rooms will be converted to classrooms, and class sizes will be increased. It's projected that this plan will work for two years before there will be more students than seats in the Memorial and West attendance areas.
What will this portion of the referendum cost homeowners in
taxes?
The cost to the owner of an average-priced home (in 2007, $239,400) for
this portion of the referendum will be $16.15 per year for 20 years. The
cost to taxpayers will vary, based on the property's assessed value. This
$16.15 amount is the impact after figuring in negative aid costs to
district taxpayers as a result of the state equalization aid formula.
What kind of an addition are you building for Leopold
School?
The addition will be only for a new cafeteria and kitchen. Once built, the
current cafeteria and kitchen will be converted into classroom space.
View a Rendering of the Leopold
Addition
Why does Leopold School need an addition?
At 700 students, Leopold is already 7% over capacity. With an additional
62 students projected to come from its attendance area in the next four
years, it would be 16% over capacity in 2010-11 if the addition was not
built.
Why are we building an addition for the children in
Fitchburg?
The Madison Metropolitan School District's boundaries are larger
than the City of Madison. Students from other municipalities —
including Fitchburg — are part of the district and have been part of
the district for many years.
The district is committed to educating all children within the district boundaries.
View a Map of the District
Why hasn't the district done things other than building an
addition to Leopold?
Other adjustments have already been made: classroom space was reconfigured,
an addition was built in 2002, and boundary lines were adjusted to move
students to other schools.
The Memorial/West Task Force considered a number of solutions to address Leopold overcrowding. Their recommendation was an addition to Leopold, and the Board of Education unanimously agreed.
Then what happened?
The Board of Education approved a $2.76 million project to build a new
cafeteria and kitchen and to convert the current cafeteria and kitchen into
classroom space.
Construction began in August, 2006 and the new classroom space will be first used in September, 2007.
So what's this part of the referendum about?
It's about moving the financing for this addition out from under the
state-imposed revenue cap.
What is the revenue cap?
The revenue cap (or revenue limit) is from a 1993 state law which restricts
the amount of tax a Wisconsin school district — including Madison
— can levy as revenue on the local property taxpayers.
What does the revenue cap mean here?
For the 2006-07 school year, the law allows MMSD to increase its total
budget by about $252 per student, or about a 2.5 % increase from the
district's previous year's budget.
Eighty-five percent of the district's budget is personnel-related.
State law also requires that teachers' contracts increase by at least 3.8% (QEO, or Qualified Economic Offer) to avoid arbitration. If the district negotiates a 3.8% total package (wages and benefits) to avoid arbitration, but the overall budget only increases by 2.5%, annual cuts may be necessary to balance the district budget.
What does it mean, then, to move the Leopold School financing
out from under the revenue cap?
It means that payment of debt service with respect to the Leopold project
financing will no longer count against the district's revenue cap. Hence,
the district will have more room under the revenue cap to pay for other
projects and/or operating costs.
On August 28, the Board passed a motion that said if the referendum passes, the Board intends to place in the district's contingency fund the $291,000 that is in the 2006-07 budget to finance the project. Expenditures from the district's contingency fund require Board approval.
If the referendum fails, what happens regarding Leopold
School?
The Leopold School project will continue and be completed. However, the
funding for the project — scheduled to be paid over 10 years —
may come from the general operating budget, which could result in cuts to
MMSD programs and services.
What will this portion of the referendum cost homeowners in
taxes?
For this portion of the referendum the cost for the homeowner with an
average assessment (in 2007, $239,400) will be $3.17 per year for 16 years.
The cost to taxpayers will vary, based on the property's assessed value.
This $3.17 amount is the impact after figuring in negative aid costs to
district taxpayers as a result of the state equalization aid formula.
About the third part of the referendum, can't you consolidate
some of your loans without going to referendum?
Yes, the district can refinance and/or consolidate loans without going to
referendum.
So what's this part asking for?
This part of the referendum is asking to move this refinancing of $3.1
million out from under the revenue cap.
What will that mean?
Moving the refinancing of $3.1 million out from under the revenue cap will
free up operating funds for other uses by the Board of Education, and may
reduce budget cuts necessary under the revenue cap by an average of
$516,000 per year for the next six years.
What will this 3rd portion of the referendum cost
homeowners?
The total cost to the owner of an average-priced home (in 2007, $239,400)
for this portion of the referendum will be $9.89 per year for 6 years.
Again, the cost to taxpayers will vary, based on the property's assessed
value. This $9.89 amount is the impact after figuring in negative aid
costs to district taxpayers as a result of the state equalization aid
formula.
How much will this referendum cost me in taxes each
year?
Using the 2007 home assessment average of $239,400 for the City of Madison,
the property tax impact of a successful referendum will be $29.21 a year
for six years, $19.32 for the next ten years, and $16.15 for the next four
years. The cost to individual taxpayers will vary, based on their
property's assessed value. This $29.21 amount is the impact after figuring
in negative aid costs to district taxpayers as a result of the state
equalization aid formula.
What do you mean by the term "negative aid" that you're using in
regard to referendum tax impacts?
A Wisconsin school district with higher property values per student —
such as Madison — receives reduced aid from the state, which results
in a higher tax to property owners in that district. Negative aid is the
term used to describe the reduced state aid.
Has the Madison School District included negative aid in its tax
impact calculations?
Yes, all property tax impacts that are stated in communications about this
referendum, such as the $29.21 in the text two answers above, have factored
in negative aid.
Where can I get more information about negative aid?
If you want more information about negative aid, go to the bottom of this
document at the Department of Public Instruction's web site:
http://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/tier.html
How does the school district part of my taxes compare to home
values over recent years?
Compare the average priced home in Madison 10 years ago to now. In 1996,
the average priced home, according to the City of Madison, was worth
$123,838, and the schools' portion of the property tax was $2,310.
In 2006, the average priced home is worth $222,928 while the schools' portion of the property tax is $2,324. This means that while the value of the average priced home has increased 80% ($99,090) the schools' portion of the property tax has increased less than 1% ($14).
Why does the school district have to go to referendum to get
"relief" from the revenue cap?
State law says that the only way to exceed the state-imposed revenue cap is
through a referendum.
Who decided that this is what the community needs?
The portions of the referendum relating to the new school and the Leopold
School project originated with the Memorial and West Task Force (more
information at
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/boe/longrange/)
The Task Force unanimously recommended a new school on the far west side and an addition at Leopold. The Board of Education voted unanimously to submit the three parts of the single referendum to the voters.
All Board members have expressed support for passing the referendum. Ultimately, the voters will decide whether this is what the community needs.
Does the district work with the Madison Planning
Department?
Yes. The district has ongoing communication with the City of Madison
Department of Planning and Development related to planned and current
neighborhood development within the city. The district has similarly worked
with City of Fitchburg planning officials to discuss issues related to
growth and development.
What is the cost to the district to add a referendum to the
election ballot, such as the one on November 7, 2006?
The cost to the district to add a referendum to the ballot is estimated at
$14,000. The costs of an election are pro-rated among all units of
government participating in the election. The costs include ballot
printing, poll workers and other expenses related to managing and running
the election.