A: Shall the School District of Brodhead, Green and Rock Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $17,485,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and facility improvement project consisting of: construction of additions, renovations, including for secure entrances, window replacements, bathroom upgrades, capital maintenance, building infrastructure and site improvements at Albrecht Elementary School and Brodhead Middle School; construction of an addition and renovations at Brodhead High School, including for a secure entrance and office; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?

A: Beginning in June of 2022, over 65 people, including members of our Board, administration, staff, teachers, and community members participated in the facility assessment process. Facilitated by Nexus Solutions, a firm specializing in assessing school facilities, our team produced a comprehensive facility assessment report, which identified over $35 million in needs over the next 10 years.

In June of 2022, the Board approved a LONG TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, which helped our District determine what our facility needs are.

In February of 2023, we reached out to our staff and community to convene a Facility Planning Committee. The Committee was made up of 25 members and met eight (8) times from February through September to review our Long-Term Capital Improvement Plan, tour each of our schools, prioritize District needs, and determine a comprehensive plan to fund upgrades for our District moving forward.

The Committee presented their recommendations to the Board at the October 11, 2023, Board Meeting. This recommendation included improved secure entries for all schools, upgrades to elementary and middle school bathrooms and windows, additional classroom space for an all-day 4 year-old kindergarten program, and renovations/additions to support a move of our 5th grade to the Middle School. The Committee recommended an April 2024 referendum for $17,485,000.

In December 2023, the Board initiated a randomized COMMUNITY SURVEY of 400 Brodhead School District residents to gather feedback and determine if there was support for a referendum. With many of our residents experiencing property tax increases, we wanted to be sure we had the support needed to bring forward a referendum. The School Board reviewed the survey results at the January 2, 2024, meeting, which showed support for a referendum for the scope and amount recommended by the Facility Planning Committee.

Input from that survey supported running a referendum in April. The survey suggested that:

63% of our Brodhead School District residents felt these improvement ideas were a good idea.

57% felt that $17,485,000 was a fair price for projects being considered.

56% support or strongly support a $17,485,000 bond referendum.

At the January 10, 2024, Board meeting, the Board approved resolutions for an April 2, 2024, facility (bond) referendum asking voters to consider up to $17,485,000 million for maintenance and upgrades at all Brodhead School District schools.

A: On April 2, 2024, Brodhead is seeking additional funding via a facility (bond) referendum. A facility (bond) referendum question asks voters to approve the district issuing debt to pay for major building projects, such as maintenance, remodeling or additions to school buildings. Much like a home mortgage, a facility (bond) referendum is typically financed over an extended period of time, and in Brodhead’s case, to be repaid over a maximum of 21 years.

An OPERATIONAL referendum question asks voters to approve additional funding above the annual revenue limit to maintain things like class sizes, programs, staff compensation and student services. Funds secured are used within the year they are received. Many School Districts in Wisconsin are having, or have had, discussions regarding their ability to fund operational needs. In fact, from April of 2022 through April of 2023 alone, there were 145 operational referendums by Wisconsin School Districts asking voters to approve additional funding for operational needs.

A: A facility (bond) referendum asks for voter approval to allow the school board to borrow money to invest in large assets such as buildings and equipment and other higher cost items that cannot be paid for within an annual budget. Facility improvements almost always involve borrowing money over a certain length of time, which is what the Brodhead School District is seeking.

If voters approve the facility (bond) referendum, it gives the Board the authority to proceed with the work outlined in the referendum question. The District is asking for $17,485,000, to be repaid over a maximum of 21 years.

The Board listened to community feedback received through the COMMUNITY SURVEY and is limiting the request to $17,485,000, which will address the highest priority items. We will work closely with financial advisors to make fiscally responsible choices, secure the best interest rates, and borrow only what is needed to complete the work.

A: The Brodhead School District has a proud history of educational and co-curricular accomplishments, while managing the District within a framework of fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers. That focus has led to efficient operations and sensible upgrades to our school buildings in the past.

The last time the District asked the community for funding support via a facility (bond) referendum was close to 20 years ago.

However, with significant use, the passage of time and changing needs in the District, a comprehensive assessment of our building and grounds became important to address the maintenance and educational needs of all our buildings. The comprehensive assessment identified important facility needs that require attention, and the Board determined now was the time to engage with our staff and community to define a plan to address those needs. Although Brodhead has dedicated funds on an annual basis to maintain school buildings, the current priorities exceed our ability to address within annual budgets.

With a Middle School built in 1958, an Elementary School built in 1963, and a High School built in 1996, it is understandable that there are significant needs that we must attend to. Things like windows and electrical systems are inefficient, many rooms are outdated, entryways are not safe and secure, and certain programs have outgrown their spaces. Looking at our needs over the next 10 years, the costs for these updates amount to well over 35 million dollars.

Our School Board is tasked with producing a funding plan, which for Wisconsin school districts is a facility (bond) referendum. Most Districts in our area have run a facility (bond) referendum within the last 10 years, but Brodhead has not conducted a major facility (bond) referendum since the Brodhead High School was built in 1996, which is why this amount has grown to the current level of need and cost.

Because of ongoing management of the District’s finances by our Board, the District has reduced tax rates by over 24% over the last (10) ten years. The referendum being presented will allow the District to address key facility priorities in a fiscally responsible manner.

A: The funding requested for this referendum will be used for deferred maintenance and educational inadequacies. Many of those upgrades are in our middle school and elementary school. The referendum asks for the following:

Albrecht Elementary School

Main Office Remodel for Secure Entry and Student Services: $1,053,000

4K Addition, 5K Renovation (Individual Toilets, Small Group Areas): $5,781,000

Bathroom Updates and ADA Compliance: $233,000

Original Single Pane Window Replacements: $698,000

Middle School

Reception/Principal Office Remodel for Secure Entry: $214,000

Classroom Addition (Science, Special Education, Small Group and Breakout Space): $3,849,000

Cafeteria Expansion, Kitchen/Receiving Remodel: $1,589,000

Current Band Area Renovation Into (2) Two 6th Grade Classrooms: $423,000

Current Maintenance Area Renovations Into Band and Practice Rooms: $706,000

Bathroom Updates and ADA Compliance: $238,000

Entire Building Window Replacements: $811,000

High School

Main Office Addition with Secure Entry and Student Services Renovations: $1,889,000

A: The referendum question is for $17,485,000. Approval of the referendum would result in an annual estimated maximum tax increase of $125 ($10.42 per month) for every $100,000 of property value over the current tax rate. Please note this is an estimate provided by Baird Public Finance, the District’s financial advisor, based on the best information currently available. For detailed information, please reference the Summary of April 2024 Referendum provided by Baird Public Finance.

The projected levy rate for 2024-25 would be $8.30, a $1.25 increase from the District’s levy rate of $7.05 in 2023-24. This means the expected increase with a passed referendum would be approximately $10.42 per month on a $100,000 home and approximately $20.83 per month on a $200,000 home. The District levy, even with a passed referendum, would continue to be one of the lower mill rates in the area.

A: Yes. Brodhead will receive the benefit of significant State aid on any new debt used to fund facility priorities. This equates to the State funding an estimated 27.5% of the cost of the proposed referendum.

A: Albrecht is overcrowded and many Special Education and Student Services staff are located in storage rooms and closets that are not meant for offices or for instruction. By adding more 4K classrooms to retain those students, moving 5th grade students to the Middle School is logical especially considering the population of 6th through 8th grade students is expected to drop below 200 students. Considering the cafeteria is already crowded, expansion of the space will alleviate that issue.

The 5th grade structure of learning will remain the same, providing a self-contained model, and they will have close access to the Band room.

A: At the main entrance to the High School, the vestibule is flanked by the Gymnasium and bathroom groups on either side of it. There is not any room to locate the main High School Office adjacent to the Vestibule. Moving the main High School office outward to the main entrance and joining with the District Office will provide a safe and secure entry during the day for all students, parents, visitors, and community members entering the building during school hours. The existing main High School Office would be remodeled into additional staff offices, calming room and a Multipurpose Room which can be used as a Conference Room, Small Group Instruction or for Visiting Team Changing Area. Single User Bathrooms would also be created off the Commons and Gym Lobby, which are lacking for families and students.

A: In recent years, our neighboring school districts have realized the value of having their four-year olds for the entire school day and the impact a full-day program would have on their youngest learners. A full-day program also helps and supports district families knowing childcare is very hard to find and is very expensive.

Some of our families are choosing to open enroll their 4 year-olds in neighboring districts, many specifically for full-day instruction. Often, those students tend to stay enrolled in those districts. Since much of state funding in Wisconsin Districts is associated with pupil count, each student choosing another District is less funding for Brodhead.

Unfortunately, Albrecht Elementary doesn’t have the capacity to house a full-day 4K program. The original school built in 1962 was built for a half-day five year-old kindergarten (5K) program, requiring two rooms with four half-day sections. Since then, we have implemented an all-day 5K starting in 2002 and a half-day 4K in 2006, requiring an additional four classrooms.

We wish to provide an all-day 4K in Brodhead, but that would require an additional two classrooms. At this time our building can’t support that program due to a significant lack of space. The only way to provide all-day 4K is to add additional classroom space to Albrecht Elementary School.

A: If the referendum is not approved, our Board will have to review options to meet these needs, as they cannot be addressed within current annual budgets.

If the referendum does not pass, the District will continue to lose 4K students and their siblings to other Districts. Also, entrances at all schools will continue to pose a safety risk, Classrooms at Albrecht Elementary will also continue to be overcrowded and double booked.

Prioritized needs will remain, but costs to address the needs will continue to rise at an average of 5% per year. In other words, the $17,485,000 budget will increase to $18,350,000 next year.

A: The cost of virtually everything has spiked over the last few years, and school districts are not immune to the effects. Fuel, utility, transportation, classroom and food costs are up while the cost to attract and retain full-time staff, substitute teachers and support staff has risen.

A: Farmland, or agricultural land, is assessed differently than the value of a typical home. For agricultural land, the value is determined by the use value instead of the market value. In a use value assessment system, the use of the land is the most important factor in determining its assessed value.

A: To easily register to vote, request an absentee ballot, or verify your voting location please visit MyVote.Wi.Gov. Absentee Ballots are mailed out: 3/12/24.

Polls are open on Election Day: Tuesday, April 2nd, 7 am – 8 pm.

Absentee Voting:

• Absentee Ballots should be requested early and can be requested at any time. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is March 28th. You can request it in person through your local clerk or online at MyVote.wi.gov

• Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on April 2nd. The US Post Office recommends mailing in 1 week prior or delivering in person to your local clerk.

Early In-Person Voting:

• Starts Tuesday 3/19/24 and runs through Friday 3/29/24.

• District residents can vote during office hours at most voting locations. The Town of Spring Valley (608-897-4288) and Town of Magnolia (608-751-6743) are by appointment only for early voting.

What are the voting locations?

• Town of Avon - Avon Town Hall

• City of Brodhead - Brodhead City Hall

• Town of Decatur - Decatur Town Building

• Town of Magnolia - Magnolia Town Hall

• Town of Spring Grove - Spring Grove Town Hall

• Town of Spring Valley - Orfordville Fire Station Meeting Room

• Town of Sylvester - Sylvester Town Hall

A: Over the last decade, voters in 13 area School Districts have approved 17 facility (bond) referendums totaling over $434 million in facility upgrades. The breakdown is as follows:

• Albany – $2.75 million

• Beloit Turner – $26.485 million

• Clinton - $32 million

• East Troy – $24.7 million

• Edgerton – $40.6 million

• Evansville – $34 million

• Jefferson – $34 million

• Juda – $5.7 million

• McFarland – $65.15 million

• Monroe – $93.6 million

• New Glarus – $34.7 million

• Parkview – $17 million

• Whitewater – $23.5 million

Comparison Graph

A: Yes. In fact, for many decades minor maintenance items were covered in annual budgets. Revenue limits were put into place in 1992, thereby reducing the ability of Brodhead to raise the levy without asking the public for approval. The District is also required to ask for public approval of any long-term debt, such as bonds to finance the cost of facility upgrades. This is an effort to provide checks and balances, in the form of a referendum.

An argument to support this notion is that rather than the State of Wisconsin deciding which school receives what amount of money, the question remains local. If a local referendum passes or fails, it is local dollars, impacting local buildings, local programming, and local children.

A: If the referendum were to pass on April 2, 2024, it is expected that the design team would work on the design and construction documents throughout the summer and fall of 2024. It is anticipated that construction would begin in the spring of 2025 with estimated completion by the start of the 2026-27 school year.

A: Our recent referendum, passed in April of 2022, was an operational referendum, which for Brodhead was a non-recurring referendum for three years to exceed the revenue cap. The only way a Wisconsin school district can increase spending beyond what is provided by the state budget is through the passage of an operational referendum. Without additional funds, Brodhead is not able to maintain current levels of spending for existing programs, let alone make improvements to curriculum and facilities. Brodhead has been conducting operational referendums every three years since 2013 as costs continue to exceed state funding.

A: Currently, Brodhead has a three-year operational referendum in place, which will expire at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

Even though in recent years Brodhead has demonstrated fiscal/financial responsibility, because of many factors that are beyond our control, an operational referendum may be needed in the future to approve additional funding above the annual revenue limit to maintain things like class sizes, programs, staff compensation and student services. We do feel comfortable pledging to continue with the same type of fiscal/financial responsibility that our community has come to (and should) expect.

Many School Districts in Wisconsin are having, or have had, discussions regarding their ability to fund operational needs. In fact, from April of 2022 through April of 2023 alone, there were 145 operational referendums by Wisconsin School Districts asking voters to approve additional funding for operational needs.

A: Since 2011, state aid to Wisconsin’s schools has continued to decrease, while tax cuts have increased, making it more difficult to fund prioritized needs for both facility maintenance and operations within the District’s annual budget. In fact, from April of 2022 through April of 2023 alone, there were 145 operational referendums by Wisconsin School Districts asking voters to approve additional funding for operational needs.

Please reference the graph below showing the $3.9 Billion change in state aid to schools since 2011 (Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Wisconsin Budget Project). By design, additional funding decisions are not coming from the State of Wisconsin any longer, but rather the decision is being given to local taxpayers.

State Aid Graph

A: From now through April 2, the District will provide as many opportunities as possible for you to learn more about facility needs, understand how the District worked with staff, parents and the community to prioritize needs and define solutions, and the estimated impact on property taxes. Please visit brodhead.referendumfacts.org for more information. Please email me at dnovy@brodhead.k12.wi.us with any questions you may have.

Some taxpayers in the Brodhead School District may have seen an increase to the portion of their property taxes attributed to “Brodhead School” taxes over the last year. This is primarily due to two reasons: (1) The equalized (fair market value) of properties in the District rose last year by an average of 11.1% - growth in equalized value was higher for some municipalities within the District than others. This is not unique to Brodhead, as property values have risen throughout Wisconsin; and (2) the school levy increased by $782,173, which was a result of an update to the State of Wisconsin’s per student funding formula for lower spending Districts, of which Brodhead is one. The additional levy is primarily directed toward the District’s operational expenses, including smaller facility maintenance projects.

A facility (bond) referendum asks for voter approval to allow the school board to borrow money to invest in large assets such as buildings and equipment and other higher cost items that cannot be paid for within an annual budget. Facility improvements almost always involve borrowing money over a certain length of time (similar to a home mortgage), which is what the Brodhead School District is seeking.

Brodhead will receive the benefit of significant State aid on any new debt used to fund facility priorities. This equates to the State funding an estimated 27.5% of the cost of the proposed referendum.

Brodhead is taking a similar approach to many Wisconsin School Districts who need funding for facility and/or operational needs. Almost 24% of Wisconsin School Districts are going to referendum in either February or April of 2024, when there are a total of 101 referendums on the ballot.

February 2024

Facility (Bond) Referendums: 5 (4 Districts)

Operational Referendums: 5

April 2024

Facility (Bond) Referendums: 30 (29 Districts)

Operational Referendums: 61

The important difference between Brodhead and many Wisconsin School Districts is Brodhead is considered a low spending District, which means Brodhead will receive the benefit of significant State aid on any new debt used to fund facility priorities. This equates to the State funding an estimated 27.5% of the cost of Brodhead’s proposed referendum.

A: It is common for school districts to borrow funds to pay the cost of large capital projects. Borrowing allows the cost of the project to be shared by current and future taxpayers, aligning with the approximate useful life of the project. Borrowing also reduces the annual tax burden on current taxpayers. School districts in Wisconsin can borrow over a maximum term of 20 years. For the purposes of planning, the district has assumed a 20-year borrowing in 2024 for a portion of the project with the balance borrowed in 2025 over a twenty-year period. We have assumed interest rates estimated at 5.25%- 5.50%, which are conservatively high relative to comparable, current interest rates.