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Siren School District weighs referendum after $605,000 boiler bid; board asks for ballot language review
Summary
Superintendent outlined options to place one or two referendum questions on the November ballot to fund capital needs after a contractor submitted a $605,000 boiler quote; the board asked Budget & Finance to review draft ballot language and acknowledged the quote while leaving final financing contingent on a future vote.
Siren School District Superintendent briefed the board Monday on referendum planning after recent survey results and contractor estimates, saying the district must decide by Aug. 27 whether to place one or two questions on the November ballot. The superintendent said the district prefers to bring draft resolutions to Budget & Finance or a special July meeting so board members can review ballot language before a final vote.
The board discussed a contractor bid of $605,000 to replace boilers and related roofing work. Several members said the district is considering asking voters for up to $700,000 on a referendum to allow flexibility for unanticipated costs. "We're hoping we can do it before that because that's the drop‑dead date," the superintendent said, asking the board whether it would prefer one question or two and offering to have staff draft the language for review.
Members asked clarifying questions about the ballot worksheet and a line labeled "maximum aid loss," noting possible statewide complications that have affected other districts. The superintendent said she would follow up to clarify the aid‑loss wording and the worksheet revenue projections before the board finalizes resolution language.
The board acknowledged the $605,000 boiler quote (a vendor visit and written bid good through 2025) and passed a motion to accept the quoted amount for record‑keeping while leaving any contract award and financing dependent on the outcome of a future referendum. The motion to accept the quote was made by Katie and seconded by Steve; the transcript records the motion as approved.
Next steps: staff will prepare draft referendum resolutions for Budget & Finance, and the board expects to review language in July ahead of any formal decision to place questions on the ballot.
