Board approves district postcard to explain property-tax drivers and state funding changes
Summary
The board approved a taxpayer postcard — to be sent by Every Door Direct Mail — explaining state funding trends and property-tax drivers; members debated whether to cite the Wisconsin Policy Forum or DPI and agreed to send the postcard 'with or without' other districts' participation.
The Sheboygan Area School District Committee of the Whole approved a plan to send a taxpayer postcard explaining recent state funding decisions and how they affect local property-tax levies.
Speaker 1 presented a draft countywide postcard intended to reach residents who may not use social media. The card is designed to show why taxes have changed and to encourage transparency about which state actions affect district levies. The board discussed whether to use the Wisconsin Policy Forum as the primary citation or to add an explicit state government data source (Department of Public Instruction) for lay readers seeking primary documents.
"Just tell people," Speaker 1 said, arguing the district's responsibility is to make clear who is responsible for the shortfall. Several board members voiced support for sending the informational postcard even if neighboring districts do not participate.
Board members also debated logistics and cost: the plan uses in-house printing and Every Door Direct Mail; postage was estimated around $3,000 and printing around $3,000. Speaker 3 moved to approve the postcard as drafted, "with or without" participation from other districts; after a second, the motion passed by voice vote.
Speakers agreed to prepare documentation of sources and citations that can be shared if the postcard prompts questions or pushback from stakeholders. The board instructed staff to finalize design, add signatory language if other districts decline to join, and proceed to mailings on the proposed timeline.
