Onalaska School District going to referendum again this November

As the five-year operating referendum winds down, the Onalaska School District has asked voters for an extension.

The school board agreed to put another five-year extension on the November ballot.

A funding source it says will help continue programs for students and keep buildings updated.

Superintendent Fran Finco says recent polling showed support for the extension.

“Almost 60 percent of the people who didn’t have kids in school said they would either totally support or partially support,” Finco said. “That was one of the indicators determining why the board chose to go to referendum.”

The question on the ballot calls for the district to ask for $150,000 extra per year over the course of the referendum from where its current level.

That means it’ll increase from $2.6 million, to $3.35 million in 2023-24.

Finco said the new referendum will have a significantly less impact on their tax bill than the current one. He said the mill rate at its highest level would still be lower than what tax payers are currently paying per $1,000 of property value.