<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1eKKvB_1H3TP9wV00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1eKKvB_1H3TP9wV00" width="640" height="480" ></figure>The Manitowoc Public School District is considering another referendum.This time, it would be an operational referendum, where the district asks taxpayers for money to keep it running, not for a specific project like building upgrades.The MPSD school board heard from School Business Specialist Mary Blaha with Baird, a financial firm that helps the district with its finances.According to trends from other school districts, Wisconsin residents mostly vote yes on operational referendums, but that’s only 75% in state school districts.Blaha also showed that since 2009, Wisconsin has not kept up with inflation on the per-pupil revenue limit.The number of school districts relying on operational referendums has also increased statewide from 61 in 2021 to 124 this year.MPSD school board members had concerns about taking every dollar from an operational referendum when it’s sometimes not required.Superintendent Lee Thennes says the district has shown it’s responsible with taxpayer dollars.Thennes stated, “We under levied really saying to our community we’re taking what we need and hopefully that will be enough trust with them, that when we come out and ask and say this is what we need, we’ll be able to get the support.”Board Member Chris Able added that MPSD has always levied only what it needed and tried to keep spending low.District Director of Business Services Nathan Mielke says the next step would be to create a draft referendum question for the school board to review next month.The operational referendum amount would be what the district would need for the next five years.“I’d rather look outward to five years than go three years and then think about again after like fifteen (or) sixteen months having to think about another operational referendum,” he admitted. “So, what I’ll bring forward will be for five years.”Superintendent Thennes explains to Seehafernews.com that the amount the district would ask for would be significantly less than in previous referendums.He also believes costs could go down for the district as well.The Manitowoc Public School District would look to have a question ready for the 2027 Spring General Election in April.The district last went to referendum to borrow money for school upgrades after an audit found buildings need at least $161 million in improvements.</div></body>

Block Source: seehafernews.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

The Manitowoc Public School District is considering another referendum. This time, it would be an operational referendum, where the district asks taxpayers for money to keep it running, not for a specific project like building upgrades. The MPSD school board heard from School Business Specialist Mary Blaha with Baird, a...

MPSD Looking At Future Operational Referendum

NewsBreak

The Manitowoc Public School District is considering another referendum. This time, it would be an operational referendum, where the district asks taxpayers

MPSD Looking At Future Operational Referendum

Comments