JANESVILLE — School District of Janesville voters will have two referendum questions on the November ballot, with one of them being funding for a scaled back facilities plan.
At its Tuesday meeting, the School District of Janesville Board of Education voted 8-0 to place two referendum questions on the ballot for November 5, 2024, after considering community survey feedback.
The first question will ask voters to consider renewing an operational referendum the community approved in 2020, according to a district news release.
This would be a $14.5 million non-recurring, two-year operational referendum that would expire on June 30, 2027, rather than June 30, 2025.
This would enable the district to continue leveraging available funds through an increased revenue limit authority.
If the operational referendum question is renewed on November 5, taxpayers are not expected to see an increase over the school district’s current portion of the mill rate.
The district would use the funds generated to maintain small class sizes at transitional grade levels, continue investments in classroom technology and supporting infrastructure, attract and retain staff, and invest in curriculum resources.
The district would also be able to avoid drastic reductions that would hinder its mission of partnering with families and the community to inspire and empowerall students to achieve their highest potential.
The second question is a capital referendum question, not to exceed $151.8 million, to address the district’s prioritized facility needs. If approved, the district would move ahead on the first phase of its long-term facilities plan.
The initial phase includes $124.5 million to repair or replace high-priority capital maintenance needs, $11.1 million to enhance safety and security, and $16.2 million to improve special education spaces.
The district had considered a larger amount for the first phase but considered feedback obtained through community engagement, ultimately falling on the lower $151.8 million for the most essential needs.
The property tax impact of the capital referendum would be $81 per every $100,000 of assessed fair market property value. A home valued at $300,000 would see a property tax impactof $243 per year (or $20.25 per month), starting in the 2025-26 school year.
Both measures are proposed due to inadequate funding increases from the state in recent years, increasing expenses and inflation and increasing mental health and special education needs, according to the district.
At the same time, the district has significant facility needs. Over time, SDJ must repair or replace aging building systems, renovate classrooms, improve outdoor athletics, activities, and physical education facilities, and enhance arts facilities.
“While the School District of Janesville is a big source of pride in our community, our district has operational and facility needs that require the attention of all district residents,” said Superintendent Mark Holzman in the news release. “District leaders and the Board of Education believe the time has come to address these needs in a comprehensive manner aligned to our strategic plan. We look to position our schools and students for success now and in the years ahead.”
Over the next several months, district leaders will seek engagement from the community and taxpayers to learn more about the district’s needs and the proposed solutions presented onthe November 5 ballot. For more information, visit www.bit.ly/sdjfacilityneeds.
