Community Referendum Information Session: March 19, 2025
What's on the Ballot on April 1?
School districts may place two questions on the ballot per calendar year. In response to taxpayer concerns with cost, the WASD Board made the choice to split the April 2025 referendum into two independent, yet related questions. The questions each represent two steps in phase one of the long-range plan; the passing of both questions gets the district further ahead in the long-range facilities plan.
Question one is for $16.4 million and is for a school facility improvement project which consists of district-wide school renovations, including the construction of secure entrances at Parkside, Wautoma High School, and Redgranite Elementary; capital maintenance improvements and repairs; and the purchase of furnishings, fixtures and equipment too.
Question two is for $19.4 million and will issue general obligation bonds in order to pay for the cost of construction of a middle school addition to Wautoma High School which includes renovations, capital maintenance, site improvements, furnishings, fixtures and equipment for the new addition. This question would allow the district to reconfigure in a manner that is best for kids because spaces would be appropriately sized and be able to accommodate the entering student population rather than the outgoing population.
Voters can therefore vote for each of the two first steps in the long-range facilities plan separately.
How much will this impact my taxes?
To find out how much the WASD April 1, 2025, Referendum will impact your taxes, feel free to use the tax impact calculator below. When inputting the fair market property value of your home, do not input any commas. For example, a house with a Fair Market Property Value of $100,000 would be inputted as 100000, then click "Calculate."
Question 1 - $16,400,000 Facilities Referendum
Question 2 - $19,400,000 Facilities Referendum
Both Questions - $35,800,000 Total Facilities Referendum
Assumptions: Assumes two to three 20-year borrowings amortized using planning interest rates ranging from 4.75% - 5.00%. Mill rate based on the 2024 Equalized Valuation (TID-OUT) of $1,781,500,106 with annual growth of 2.00% thereafter. Tertiary Aid Impact (2024-25 October 15 Certification): -17.83% Impact represents the hypothetical change in mill rate for Fund 39 & EEE debt service over the 2024-25 mill rate for EEE debt service (net of annual Measured Utility Savings of $28,699) of $0.17.</p>
Note: Planning estimates only. Significant changes in market conditions will require adjustments to current assumptions and financing plan.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Find additional FAQs about the 2025 Facility Referendums here.