Marshfield Referendum possible

Marshfield School District considers $2 million referendum to offset
future deficit
By Adam Rodewald
Marshfield News-Herald September 27, 2007
The Marshfield School District may hold a budget override referendum
next year for as much as $2 million to offset its projected deficit.


This is the last year the district will receive an extra $1 million
from the referendum passed in April 2005, leaving a projected
shortfall of $2.5 million.


Superintendent Bruce King proposed holding the referendum at the
district's strategic planning meeting Wednesday night. The school
board must approve his proposal by January to place it on the Feb. 18
or April 1 ballot.


The tax impact of a $2 million referendum would be $100 on a $100,000
home, said director of business services Pat Saucerman.


While Marshfield is a declining enrollment district, the bulk of the
deficit is structural, said director of business services Pat
Saucerman. Expenditures rise nearly 4.5 percent each year while the
state only allows a 2.5 percent revenue cap increase.


The district traditionally budgeted using an "81/19" rule, meaning 81
percent went for personnel and 19 percent went elsewhere, said King.


But, "with a deficit this size, I'm not sure we can afford that type
of methodology," he said. Projections show the district faces $2
million in personnel cuts for next year.


School board member Carol Phillips suggested looking at ways to
increase enrollment for added revenue instead of focusing on where to
make cuts.


"Do we need to flip our mentality a little bit and say, 'Should we add
something that would be so cool and so educational and innovative that
people from all around here would like to come and be a part of it?'"
she said.


The district would need about 300 new students to offset the deficit,
said board member Graham Olson.


Any new programs, no matter how great, will come at the expense of
something else, added King.


Discussion on remodeling or rebuilding of the middle school was also
reintroduced at the meeting.


Some options are included in the district's long-range facility plan,
but board president David Meissner recommended the creation of a
community-based committee to further explore ideas.