FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Opened in 2000, our school has been well maintained over the past 25 years. Over this period of time, like our homes, some building systems have reached the end of their lifespan and are failing. Flooring has developed significant cracks as the building has settled, and air handling components in the shop areas—repurposed from the previous school—are long overdue for replacement. The heating system has also exceeded its expected lifespan. While continued efforts are made to extend the life of these systems, it is now necessary to replace. As maintenance costs continue to increase annually, addressing these issues now will reduce our annual operating budget and allow us to redirect these funds in other areas, like student programming.

Schools receive funding from various sources, but most is designated for salaries, programs, and daily operations—not major repairs or upgrades. Large-scale projects like infrastructure fixes, security improvements, and expanded learning spaces require separate funding. That’s why schools seek voter approval for a bond referendum, which allows the district to borrow money specifically for these improvements. Without voter approval, the district cannot fund these projects through its regular budget. By law, referendum funds can only be used for the approved projects, ensuring they are spent as promised.

The proposed work focuses on essential needs. The School Board carefully evaluated various options and prioritized fiscal responsibility, limiting the scope to only the most critical upgrades. These include repairs to flooring, the playground, driveway, and fire system to enhance safety, heating and cooling system improvements, and sealing the building to prevent ongoing water damage and deterioration.

We believe the School District has been responsible with maintaining and budgeting for building updates. However, large projects like this exceed the scope of normal operating funds and the revenue caps put in place by the State. School funding relies on both State and local support, but state funding alone isn’t enough to cover everything. As a result, districts must ask residents for additional funding. In fact, over half of Wisconsin school districts sought funding through a referendum last year. We take pride in the fact that the School District of Flambeau has not made such a request in 27 years.

If the referendum question is approved, the estimated tax increase for a $100,000 home would be approximately $8 per month. Visit the Tax Impact page to calculate the impact on your property.

This referendum prioritizes essential systems, including heating and fire alarm systems. Over time, delaying necessary upgrades has led to increased maintenance costs, impacting the district’s operational budget. Generally, addressing these projects proactively through planned improvements is more cost-effective than reacting to system failures. If the referendum does not pass, the district will need to reassess alternative options. Since our operating budget is a fixed amount determined by state formulas, rising maintenance costs may affect how funds are allocated for other district needs.

The length of the proposed bond if approved would be for a maximum of up to 20 years.