Dodgeland School District seeks $700,000 operational referendum to shore up budget and retain programs

Todd Grigo, director of the Dodgeland School District, told the Common Council of the City of Juneau that the district plans to ask voters to approve an operational referendum to sustain day‑to‑day services such as elementary class sizes, elective and advanced courses and middle school athletics.

Grigo said district equalized property value is about $620 million and that the referendum, if passed as proposed, would raise the district’s levy from 3.9 to 4.6 — an increase he described as roughly $700,000. He said the ask reflects a projected one‑year shortfall of about $300,000 and a four‑year projected deficit near $2.7 million; the district plans to request a total of roughly $2.8 million over the period to provide a modest cushion for maintenance and unexpected repairs.

The superintendent attributed part of the local cost pressure to the growth of private‑school vouchers, which he said are “just shy of $445,000” for the district and are treated as a passthrough on local tax bills. He said voucher growth, together with open‑enrollment student flows and long‑term revenue caps set by state law, have left the district operating with limited local levy flexibility.

Grigo said the district currently enrolls about 675 students and is projecting an enrollment decline of approximately five students per year — about 20 fewer over four years — and that open‑enrollment movements have produced a net outflow of students in recent years. He described a typical exchange as roughly 140 students leaving versus about 132 entering under public open‑enrollment, creating a modest net loss in state aid tied to enrollment.

Board member Alyssa Goldman, elected to represent the Juneau Oak Grove area, told council members the district’s historically frugal budgeting and prior capital referendum work informed the decision to seek operational support now. Grigo said the district engaged financial advisors (P.W. Baird, named in the presentation) and plans outreach materials including handouts and a QR code linking to detailed information for voters.

The presentation concluded with an invitation for questions; Grigo said the district is also exploring consolidation options with neighboring districts and that any consolidation would be considered only if it benefits students and is financially prudent. He emphasized that the referendum is for operations only — not capital projects — and that the ballot wording will highlight the limited uses for the funds.

The council did not act on the referendum request at this meeting; Grigo’s presentation was informational and the district will proceed with outreach and additional hearings as required.