Rhinelander Superintendent Eric Burke leads a community meeting at the Hodag Dome about the upcoming school referendum. Star Journal photo by Dave Melancon

Community meetings underway

By Eileen Persike, Editor

It is a familiar request to anyone who has lived in Rhinelander more than a few years.

School funding provided by the state of Wisconsin remains inadequate to pay for basic School District of Rhinelander operations. And, as it has four times since 2010, SDR is asking district residents to voluntarily chip in more property tax money to make up for the shortfall. A referendum question on the ballot in November will ask for $4 million per year for four years.

Rhinelander Schools Superintendent Eric Burke led the first of four community information meetings last week at the Hodag Dome. He explained that due to a state-imposed revenue limit, which has only increased by $1 million over the last nine years, and a funding formula that looks at property values without considering the poverty level, the district must ask residents for help.

“The good news is, we’re asking for $1 million less over the course of four years,” Burke said. “We’re going for this at the same time the district is going to have an increase in state aid. The taxpayer impact is that property taxes will go down quite a bit.”

If the referendum passes, the SDR portion of tax bills could be reduced as much as $200 on a $100,000 home.

The decrease is also due to SDR’s financial stability, Burke said, which has created a savings, a fund balance that has helped pay for things such as the dome, parking lots, roof repairs and building additions – things that some school districts have had to go to referendum to get.

Burke said costs for mandated services and increased needs in areas such as special education and mental health, as well as basic expenses like gasoline for buses and heat in the schools continue to increase. So far, Burke noted, comments he has received have been positive.

“I had only a few phone calls, some Facebook comments, but for the most part it’s been very positive,” Burke said. “We just need people to get out and vote. No matter how you feel, it’s just important to vote.”

Over the last 10 years, more than 130 operational referendums have been brought forward in Wisconsin. In the Northwoods, in addition to Rhinelander, Elcho, Tomahawk, Three Lakes, Northland Pines, Minocqua and Phelps all have referendums in place to exceed the revenue limit. Rhinelander’s current referendum expires the end of the current school year.

There are three more community meetings before the Nov. 8 election. Visit the school district’s website for more information.