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Wausau School Board votes to put $8 million-per-year operating referendum on April ballot
Summary
After a district presentation on multi-year deficits and deferred maintenance, the Wausau School Board voted to place an $8 million-per-year, five-year nonrecurring operating referendum on the April ballot. Administrators said the measure could fund maintenance, HVAC and program supports while using levy space created by prior debt defeasance to avoid an added tax impact.
Wausau School District administrators told the board on Jan. 13 that the district is projecting a current-year budget shortfall and multi-year deficits under a status-quo scenario and recommended placing an operating referendum on the April ballot.
Josh, speaking for district administration, summarized a five-year projection showing an estimated current-year deficit of about $775,000 that could grow into the millions in subsequent years. "This year that we're in about a $775,000 budget deficit," he said, and added that the district has used one-time funding that is no longer available and has taken steps such as staffing reductions and below‑CPI salary increases in recent years.
Administration framed two referendum types — operating and capital — and recommended an operating referendum to address ongoing maintenance, program funding and staff attraction/retention. The administration described three tier options: $4 million, $6 million or $8 million per year…
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