What will the referendum question look like?
Question: Shall the School District of Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $88,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and improvement project consisting of: acquisition of land for and construction of a new high school, including a performing arts center and site improvements; removal of the current high school and site restoration; capital maintenance and mechanical system improvements at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?

What will the referendum cost?
This answer has been updated to reflect the 2022-23 revenue limit and state aid allocations released by the DPI on October 15.  The new projected levy rate with a passed referendum would be $9.33, a 13 cent increase from the 2021-22 levy rate of $9.20.  A levy rate increase of $.13 would equate to $13 for a $100,000 home and $26 for a $200,000 home.

The referendum question is for $88 million.  The cost of the referendum debt is projected to be $1.99/thousand.  With that said, the District will be receiving more than $1M of additional state equalization aid for the coming year which will lower the operating cost (Fund 10) portion of the tax levy. This would continue the trend of a declining operating levy rate the District has had in recent years.   When you combine the lower operating levy with the new debt cost of a potential passed referendum, the projected levy rate would be $9.33, a 13 cent increase from the District levy rate of $9.20 in 2021-22.  This means the expected increase with a passed referendum would be closer to $13 on a $100,000 home and $26 on a $200,000 home.  The District levy, even with a passed referendum, would continue to be lower than at any point in the last 30 years, except for the levy for 2021-22  

How does that relate to historical tax levy rates? 
This answer has been updated to reflect the revenue limit and state aid allocations released by the DPI on October 15.  The new projected levy rate for 2022-23 with a passed referendum would be $9.33, a 13 cent increase from the 2021-22 levy rate of $9.20.

The 2021-22 District levy rate was $0.65 less than it has been at any point in the last 30 years and has decreased significantly in the past six years.  The District’s 2021-22 levy rate of $9.20 is more than $2.50 less than it was in 2016-17.  Were the referendum to pass, the levy rate is projected to be $9.33.  This is a $.13 increase from the 2021-22 rate of $9.20 with the referendum debt costs included.    

What is the timeframe for paying off the $88,000,000 debt? 
The new capital debt would be paid for over a 21-year period. 

How much existing debt does the District have?  When will it be paid for? 
As of July 1, 2022, the District has $4,300,000 of outstanding debt.  That debt will be fully paid for and retired in the spring of 2024. 

Are interest rate increases factored into the tax levy projections? 
Yes, they have been.  Our financial advisors, Baird, build in inflationary factors.  After the two historically large interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve this year, we did adjust our tax levy rate impact projection up slightly from what was presented in the survey in January. Current borrowing rates for a debt issuance the size of this referendum are well under the current projections.  This, along with updated state aid and equalization estimates, has allowed Baird to now lower the projected tax impact to even less than was projected in January while still factoring for potential additional rate increases in the coming months.  The hope would be that the final interest rate at issuance would be less than projected and save interest and tax dollars from what is being projected.  

Are inflation costs factored into the project?
Yes.  The contractor, CG Schmidt, builds an inflationary factor into cost projections.  With that said, this spring construction labor, equipment, and supplies have all grown at a faster rate than normal.  Those costs have begun to moderate.  There is hope that by the time the District would go out to bid in late 2023 or early 2024, should the referendum pass, that those costs may have moderated back to a more normal inflationary growth.  One potential offset to higher than normal inflationary growth is the potential to earn short-term interest during the course of construction.  In January, there was basically no anticipated interest revenue expected.  Currently, with the increase in interest rates, on a project the size of this referendum with costs spread over three years, the District would likely make $3M or more to help offset additional inflationary costs. 

When will a site be determined and announced to the public? 
The School District of Monroe recently placed a piece of property under contract that is suitable for building a new high school should the November 8th Referendum be approved by voters. The 77+ acre site is located off 31st Ave. near Northside Elementary School. The sale is contingent upon the passage of the referendum and more information will be available in the coming days and weeks.

When did the District know the location of a possible new high school?
Prior to August 2022, no property owners had been contacted about land for a possible new high school.  The location was not determined until after September 9, 2022.  All properties in and around the city of Monroe were considered and evaluated based on location to utilities, topography, size, access, cost, and availability.

The process of engaging property owners of potentially viable sites began in August and the purchase process to contract a suitable site was publicly announced Monday, September 12, 2022, 3 days after an agreement was reached between the district and property owners.

What are the benefits of the land under contract near Northside Elementary School?

• Location to city water, sewer, utilities, and technology infrastructure
• Close to an existing elementary school (Northside)
• It does not cross any major roads
• 70%-75% of the property has an elevation change of 20’ feet or less
• Large enough to plan for on-site traffic flow during morning, afternoon, and for events
• Large enough to have most of our school-sponsored activities at the high school site
• Large enough to accommodate future needs in the event there is growth or needed space for other district facilities
• Opportunity for future access points other than 31st Ave.
• Opportunity to partner with the city to improve stormwater run-off and provide utilities for housing which may develop in the future near this property
• Closer access to HWY 59, HWY 11, and HWY KK

If the referendum passes are we locked into the announced site located off 31st Ave. near Northside Elementary? 
Several contingencies would need to be met regardless of the property and location to ensure the building and outdoor facilities are on solid foundations and the impact to the area and surrounding properties are known, and if needed, addressed.

Provisions and Contingencies include:

• Clear title
• Certified Survey to optimize the flat areas of the two properties
• Environmental Impact Study
• Wetlands Delineation Study
• Agricultural Impact Study
• Soil Studies with Boring Maps and Testing
• Copies of studies, reports, agreements, or other documents related to stormwater drainage or storage for stormwater from within or directed onto the property
• Access to city utilities

In the event a contingency cannot be met or acceptably mitigated, the property purchase shall be void.  Again, this is the standard applied to any property in any location. 

Would there be a lot of additional cost for transportation to the new high school site? 
There shouldn’t be significant additional costs.  All bus routes currently stop at elementaries, the middle school, and the high school.  The District would need to factor in transportation for high school students who reside in the city.  The most likely solution for the morning route is that students who live in the city will walk to one of the elementary schools, the middle school, or other existing bus stops and get on a bus that will then take them to the new high school so costs should be similar to what they are now.  The afternoon route may require another route or two to take high school students back into the city for dropoff at the other schools.  

If the referendum passes, how long will construction take?
If the referendum were to pass in November, it is expected that the architect and construction team would work on the design and creation of construction documents throughout the spring and fall of 2023.  It is anticipated that excavating and construction would begin either fall of 2023 or spring of 2024 with expected completion in August of 2025. 

If the Referendum is passed will the district support local businesses and contractors?
Yes.  Whether a union or non-union business, all will have the opportunity to bid within the bid packet.  We will do our best to support local businesses within the scope of this project.

What are some of the updates that would happen at Abraham Lincoln?
Several projects outlined on the 2-5 years Urgent Maintenance list would be completed, similar to the projects completed at Parkside (2018) and Northside (2022).  The electrical service would be upgraded and additional outlets would be added. Lighting would be replaced with more energy-efficient LED fixtures. The CAT-5 data cabling would be updated to CAT-6. The HVAC system would be overhauled: replacing the original air handlers and hot water/chilled water unit vents, replacing pumps, updating to digital controls, duct cleaning and rebalancing. Restrooms would be remodeled to be ADA compliant.

What has the enrollment trend been for the high school and District?
The high school enrollment has remained fairly consistent the past 12 years.  There are minor fluctuations, but it has consistently been in the 690-740 student range during that time.  Prior to 2010, enrollment was generally in the high 700s to low 800s.  Looking at the whole District, enrollment declined by approximately 11 students per year in the five years pre-COVID.  In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, the District saw a decrease of over 100 students.  In 2021, we saw an increase of nearly 40 students.  We will have the 2022 pupil count finalized at the end of September and will update again then.  

What is the projected high school enrollment trend going forward?  
The current projection going forward would be a slight decline in enrollment based upon the slight declines in enrollment the District was seeing pre-COVID at the elementary and middle school levels.  

If the capital referendum passes will there be more capital referendums for buildings or facilities? 
The proposed capital referendum will service the community well for the next twenty years.  It addresses the needs and concerns of the high school and updates the mechanical infrastructure and bathrooms at Abe Lincoln Elementary.  The Parkside elementary mechanical systems and bathrooms were recently updated and Northside Elementary bathrooms and mechanical systems will be completed this summer.

What will happen to the old high school site? 
No final determination on the old site has been made at this time.  Were the referendum to pass, the Board would have three years to weigh the various options that have been suggested for the existing high school and high school site while the new high school is being built.  The referendum does include costs associated with demolition of the existing building and returning the site to a green space should no other use for the building be determined. 

Could the District maintain the PAC and gyms as a separate building instead of building new?
The PAC and gyms would need extensive remodeling to be able to function as an independent building.  It would also be impractical for the district to bus students to and from these facilities for practices and rehearsals on a daily basis.  The lighting and majority of the sound equipment used in the PAC are from the original installation when the building was constructed more than 20 years ago and would require a significant investment to modernize.

What is the benefit of upgraded athletic facilities?
The current athletic facilities at MHS have not been significantly improved since their construction in 1959. Locker rooms are located in the basement and are not accessible to individuals with disabilities.  Locker rooms are outdated and small, making it challenging to accommodate visiting teams, especially during tournaments. Modern facilities would allow us to host large-scale events bringing more visitors to our community. High-quality athletic facilities can also be a draw when families are considering enrollment options in the area.

Why is a new pool not included in the project?
The District Facilities Committee discussed and investigated the addition of a Natatorium and decided it was not financially feasible based on the initial cost to construct ($4,000,000) and the cost to operate annually ($1,000,000).  The recurring costs of operation would require a separate operating budget specifically for the operation and maintenance of the pool.

What happens if the referendum fails? 
The Board of Education will have to re-evaluate the best course of action going forward should that happen.  The needs and concerns associated with the current high school will remain.  Water, mold and foundation issues will continue to exist.  The need to update and modernize all mechanical systems and many educational spaces would also need to be addressed.  The construction of a new high school on a new site was an overwhelming choice of the community survey for how best to address these concerns.  Were it not to pass, the Board would need to again reconsider options and look for community input for how best to move forward.