District seeks public input on future referendum. Superintendent says limited revenue is not enough for schools like Brodhead’s ‘to survive’

Maureen Vander Sanden, Editorial Coordinator

The Brodhead School Board is seeking public feedback on how best to approach taxpayers with a referendum this spring that would allow the district to exceed state-imposed revenue limits to meet budget shortfalls.

The proposed referendum would be the district’s fourth consecutive referendum brought to voters to help offset operational expenses.

“The Brodhead School District has been in a three-year pattern for needing to go to our community for a non-recurring referendum,” Superintendent Dave Novy stated in an email.

Past referendums were in 2012 for $80,000 annually, 2016 for $950,000 annually and in 2018 for $950,000 annually.

Each of the referendums were necessary to cover general operating expenses due to costs rising quicker than the revenue that the district receives from state aid and property taxes, according to Novy.

Pick up the Nov. 10th print edition for full story….