– Letter to the Editor –
If you have followed articles in newspapers from some surrounding communities, you will have noticed that Cadott is not alone in seeking property tax increases for school funding issues. Stanley-Boyd, Thorp and Chippewa Falls school districts are considering, or have decided, on referendums this year.
The takeaway from newspaper articles and school administrators, is that school funding, from sources other than property tax, is not keeping up with the needs of our schools. So, the alternative is to seek additional property tax funds, through referendums.
The Thorp situation is different from Cadott’s, in that Thorp is seeking approval of their referendum, in order to fund ongoing operations (teacher salaries, etc.) and not capital improvements (buildings, equipment, etc.). The Stanley Republican states that some 1,500 schools across the state, have, or have had, operating referendums. How long before more schools will need to increase property taxes through referendums, in order to keep the lights on? As taxpayers, we need to decide what type of taxes and at what levels we support, for school funding.
Property tax was a tax on personal property and real estate, with personal property being a significant portion in the past. Inventories, business equipment and yes, even livestock, were categories of personal property taxed at one time. Go far enough back and the value of a gold pocket watch was taxed.
As of 2024, no personal property will be taxed, so the burden will basically fall entirely on land and buildings. Property taxation is complex with TIF districts, use value assessments, exemptions, credits, etc., making any study of who or what groups are disproportionately impacted challenging.
Last year, Dec. 6, there was an informational meeting at the Cadott School, where a representative from CESA presented the results of the survey that district residents were asked to complete, regarding referendum alternatives. The CESA representative informed those attending, that the response rate was 35 percent, compared to an average response rate of 10-15 percent for this type of survey (response rate for Stanley-Boyd was 22 percent).
The results were 37 percent supporting Option 1 ($11 million); 36 percent supporting Option 2 ($25 million); and 26 percent not in favor of either option. After adjustments for voter turnout, etc., the percentages remained approximately the same, at 37 percent, 35 percent and 28 percent, respectively.
Based on the survey results, as adjusted, 63 percent of respondents are not in favor of increasing school debt by $25 million.
The decision has been made to go ahead with a $25 million referendum, to be voted on at the April election. It is my understanding, that should the referendum be voted down – $9 million in funds are available for projects addressed in the 2023 referendum that passed.
Vernon Haas, Cadott
