Interim business manager outlines plan for three‑year, $750,000 annual referendum to shore up Raymond schools' fund balance

At a Board of Education workshop, interim business manager Pete Kempin told board members the district plans to ask voters in an April non‑recurring operating referendum for roughly $750,000 a year for three years to replenish the district's fund balance and avoid program and staff reductions. Kempin said Raymond's fund balance has declined and the district is not meeting its fund‑balance policy, which prompted the referendum planning.

Kempin opened the budget primer by explaining that Wisconsin school budgets use fund accounting: each revenue and expenditure must be assigned to numbered funds. He said Fund 10 covers general operations (payroll, benefits, administration and most supplies), Fund 27 is restricted for special education and must end the year at a zero balance, and Fund 21 holds donations and student activity funds. "Fund 27 must balance, so any costs above revenue in Fund 27 have to come out of Fund 10," Kempin said.

Kempin described timing pressures the district faces: property‑tax receipts and state aid arrive on a schedule that causes cash shortfalls at predictable points, which is one reason districts sometimes short‑term borrow. He noted Raymond has state trust‑fund debt (examples cited in the presentation) that is levied in separate debt funds. He also reviewed Fund 50 (food service) and Fund 80 (community service), explaining Fund 80 can be used for community education or athletics if it serves the broader community.

On revenue and the referendum, Kempin said "we are writing a check, or the public is writing a check, for $750,000 each year for three years and then that check goes away," framing the proposal as a non‑recurring operating referendum intended to buy time to stabilize finances. He said the non‑recurring approach is limited in duration and not a "blank check," and emphasized that question wording and precise financial modeling will be important.

Kempin outlined potential consequences if voters do not approve the measure: staff and program reductions. He cited a district forecast that could require cuts of roughly four to seven positions over the next two years absent new revenue and said the district will pursue a strategic planning process and community engagement regardless of the referendum outcome.

Communications staff described outreach already underway: a direct mail postcard was mailed, a second postcard is planned, a printed referendum booklet is being prepared, and the district is exploring an online tax‑impact calculator. The district has scheduled daytime and evening information sessions in the weeks before early voting and said it will limit outside marketing costs by doing much of the outreach in‑house. Kempin and communications staff noted attorney fees and printing are real costs of a referendum; the presenter put current attorney expenses at about $3,000 for the question so far.

No formal vote on the referendum took place at the workshop; the session was informational. The board adjourned at 6:52 p.m., and staff noted a candidate forum would begin at 7:00 p.m.

Sources: workshop presentation by Pete Kempin and communications update delivered to the Board of Education.

Ending: The board did not take a formal vote on the referendum at the workshop; staff said they will continue financial forecasting, community engagement and refinement of the referendum question and outreach materials ahead of the publicly scheduled vote.