Wausau School District. MWC file photo.
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau School Board’s Education and Operations Committee has instructed the administration to move forward with crafting language for a referendum question on the April 2022 ballot but has also asked to see slimmed-down versions of the current $181.9 million proposal.
Some members said based on feedback from residents, they didn’t feel confident that the measure would pass. That included Vice President Jim Bouche, who said “I don’t think the number we are at right now is going to pass, and we need to take a look at what will pass.”
That led to a back-and-forth between the board and the district’s Finance Officer Bob Tess, who said it would be possible to have other versions of a referendum ready for consideration in early January.
Board President Pat McKee said getting a precise proposal from Administration would be the best route. Board members did spend some time discussing amounts and what could be cut or added on as alternatives, but that task may be best left to those who know what needs to be done.
“It would allow for some precise dollar amounts instead of shooting from the hip,” said McKee. ” It would give you more opportunity to confer with others. Something may say $1.5 million on here, but it may not be that savings in the grand scheme of things because of other factors. A lot of these are wrapped into the big categories.
“And if we aren’t comfortable with whatever comes back on the 10th, we can vote that down,” added McKee.
Voters in Wausau have rejected building referendum projects on two consecutive ballots- one each in November of 2020 and April of 2021. A separate staffing referendum did pass in April.
Board members discussed the referendum proposal for more than an hour and 20 minutes, and after voting to move the item to the regular board meeting on January 10th McKee thanked everyone for their thoughtful input.
“That [was] good discussion, and anyone who thinks we are not going over this and taking this seriously with a fine-toothed comb, they’re smoking something. People have poured hours and hours. We are spending time on it, people have spent time on it. It’s a lot of money, and we should spend time on it,” said McKee.
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