Flambeau board moves to pursue $7.5 million referendum for school facilities

The Flambeau School District Board of Education agreed at a Nov. 21 work session to pursue placing a $7.5 million facilities referendum on the April 1, 2025 election ballot. The board heard a presentation from consultants Michael Smith and Jack Mata of SitelogiQ outlining survey results, proposed project scopes and possible funding scenarios.

SitelogiQ told the board that the referendum option would require broad public support and described an outreach plan. "They would begin making videos, and sending out mailers informing the public about the needs of the district," Michael Smith said during the presentation. Board members discussed tradeoffs between needs and wants and the financial effect on district taxpayers; the meeting record shows the board accepted moving forward with the $7.5 million option but does not record a formal roll-call vote on the referendum question itself.

The presenters explained that the $7.5 million scenario would raise the district mill rate to 6.01 from 5.03. The consultants estimated that change would amount to about $12.21 per month on a $150,000 home inside the district. The board did not adopt final ballot language at the session; members directed staff and consultants to proceed with public outreach and preparations for the April 1 ballot date.

The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m. after a motion by Board member Lana Nelson, which was recorded as carried.