Madison School Referendum

Because of its severe financial problems, the Madison School District will be holding a referendum on November 4. School Board member Arlene Silvera is circulating the following e-mail describing the referendum:
Hi all,
Last month, the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education voted unanimously to put a question to the voters on November 4 to exceed the state-imposed revenue limits in the form of a 3 year recurring referendum. Information on the referendum is being overshadowed by the presidential election so I wanted to make you had information and the opportunity to ask questions.
Due to a broken state-funding system, the District faces budget gaps of $8.1M in 09-10, $4.4M in 10-11 and $4.3M in 11-12. After making over $60M in cuts since 1993, further reductions at these levels would negatively affect every child in our school district. These are the amounts the budget would have to be reduced if a referendum does not pass.However, the decision to go to referendum is never an easy one as we balance both the needs of our children and our community. The Partnership Plan, proposed by our new Superintendent Dan Nerad, does a good job at achieving that balance through shared responsibility for addressing the budget gap. Part of the gap would be filled through an approved referendum while the other part of the gap would come from the District continuing to make cuts, find efficiencies and lessen the tax impact through budgetary changes. Two changes in how we use our funds will be implemented over the next school year that will help to mitigate=2 0the tax impact of the referendum. This is explained below.
The Question
The amount to exceed the revenue limit would be:
$5M in 09-10 (note the gap is $8.1M. The District will be responsible for the other $3.1M)
An additional $4M in the 10-11 year for a total of $9M
An additional $4M in the 11-12 year for a total of $13M
It’s a recurring referendum which means that, if approved, the school district could exceed the revenue limit by $13M in the 11-12 year and in every year after that.
Tax Impact
1. The projected tax impact on the average Madison home (valued at $250,000) will be:
a. An increase of $27.50 in 09-10
b. In 10-11, an increase of $43.10 over the previous year for a total of $76.40
c. In 11-12, an increase of $20.90 o ver the previous year, for a total of $91.50
The cumulative total increase over the 3 years is $189.60.
Tax Rate
1. The district is taking other actions to lower the amount of tax dollars needed. The tax rate if the referendum passes (the property tax paid per $1,000 of assessed value) is projected to go:
a. Up 1.1% in 09-10 (from $9.92 to $10.03, or 11 cents)
b. Down 2.1% in 10-11 (from $10.03 to $9.81, or 22 cents)
c. Down 3.0% in 11-12 (from $9.81 to $9.51, or 30 cents)

I want you to know that this is part of a larger vision that the Board and Superintendent have for our schools and community. We are committed to initiating a community-wide strategic planning process this year. Outcomes will be used to make staffing, programmatic and budgeting decisions. We are looking at new models of Board-Superintendent governance based on models implemented in high achieving school districts. In all we are doing, community engagement is essential. We are working in synch to focus on student achievement.
This is not "business as usual" in the MMSD. This truly is a Partnership Plan. A successful referendum stabilizes our foundation. It gives us the time we need, with your input, to determine what we value in public education and what our children need to become responsible, successful citizens wherever their path may lead them in the 21st century.
More information on the referendum is available at www.mmsd.org/mmsdtv/refweb/
If You Want to Help
If you would like a yard sign, would like to host a coffee or would like to lit drop in support of the referendum, please let me know.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Arlene Silveira