The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

As the results of the latest school funding referendum were being finalized, the school district’s administrators and “Vote Yes” advocates were already looking forward to their next opportunity to return the issue to the ballot.

On Tuesday, voters in the School District of Rhinelander (SDR) defeated two referendum questions by the slimmest of margins.

The first question, which asked voters to authorize general obligation bonds not to exceed $23,350,000, was defeated by just 45 votes and the second question, which asked voters to authorize the school district budget to exceeding the revenue limit by $225,000 for recurring purposes, fell 99 votes short, according to unofficial results posted on the district’s Web site Wednesday.

The vote marked the second defeat of a school funding referendum this year.

In April district voters defeated the referendum by a margin of over 500 votes. The April proposal was set to raise the district’s debt levy. The September referendum proposal was designed to be tax neutral on the debt levy, meaning voters would not have seen an increase in their property taxes were it to have passed.

The tax neutral proposal won support in Pine Lake, Newbold, and Crescent on Tuesday, having failed in all three of those townships in April. But ultimately the wide margins of defeat in Cassian, Stella, and Woodboro were enough to doom the newest referendum. Nearly 400 fewer voters participated in the most recent referendum than in the April 1st vote.

In spite of the defeat, “Vote Yes” chairperson Dave Havel saw opportunity in the ballot results.

“The reaction is that we’re all disappointed, especially with it being so close. It’s a bitter pill to swallow,” Havel said. “On the other hand we’re pleased with the momentum we’ve generated. We’re going to try to explore every option out there to see if we can make this happen.”

Havel dismissed the idea that his group should accept the vote as a final verdict on the issue.

“If you believe in the value of education and the Rhinelander community then you have to fight for it. We’re at a critical crossroads because of the district’s debt coming up,” Havel said. “We either go down the path of securing the future of education in Rhinelander or we go the other way, which isn’t acceptable.”

SDR Superintendent Roger Erdahl said he viewed the vote in the context of a longer process to convince voters to fund the district.

“These things are always a journey and you have to find the right combination to present to voters,” Erdahl said. “We’re in this for the long haul.”

Erdahl added that the way forward must now be decided by the school board.

“Our board will make the final determination on where we go from here. In the absence of a successful referendum to fix up our buildings, we are likely to recommend cuts in programs and staff so we can begin addressing some of the more pressing needs in the buildings and grounds budget,” Erdahl said.

One of the options the board could pursue is to send the district to a third referendum vote this year on the ballot of the Nov. 4 general election. In order to accomplish the quick turnaround, the board would have to approve new referendum language on or before Sept. 19.

School board president Chuck Fitzgerald could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but the board is expected to meet with the district’s administration soon to discuss its options.

Erdahl said he and his administrative staff are working hard to gather information to present to the board.

“We’re in the information gathering mode and we’re listening to anyone who wants to talk to us so we can put some ideas on paper for the board to consider,” Erdahl said.

The district believes it urgently needs to pass some kind of school funding proposal that will allow it to repair and maintain its buildings. Also, the SDR’s opportunity to assume debt at its current bond rating will expire at the end of this year, when the district makes its final payments on its existing debt. According to district administrators, if the SDR does not capitalize on its existing bond rating, any future borrowing will be more expensive, which may lead to further budget drawdowns that adversely affect programs and facilities.

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TRT wrote on Sep 14, 2008 4:52 PM:

" Assume the near five years of planning and study is what our community NEEDS. Remember also there is NO TAX INCREASE with the latest referendum and it covers CURRENT NEEDS! Assume everyone forgives any negetive experience they ever had with the District, I know I had to, and move on to do what is BEST for ALL in our community! Postponing what we need increases ourt building costs, and if 9/9 had been bonded at 4% we would have saved over $1.45 Million the first 5 years! "

HMMMMM... wrote on Sep 12, 2008 3:17 PM:

" What we need to think about is that the first thing outsiders look at when deciding to invest in a community is a school, not just because they have children who will attend a school, but it says a lot about a community and what their priorities are. The comment of teachers working seven months is laughable.Summers are times of study and graduate classes and the day doesn't end for a teacher at 3:35.I will think about that when up at1am grading/planning.Those of you that voted no must reconcile yourself to the possibility that you are taking away the opportunity for future athletes and scholars, not to mention the revenue that can be accumulated by are business as a result of tournaments etc.Students maintain their grades or stay in school so they can play sports.Would you want these kids dropping out and wandering the streets or trying to get ahead? "

Lisa wrote on Sep 12, 2008 10:20 AM:

" Mike S. the vote yes comittees are not funded by anyone. They are made up of residents of this town that care about their kids's and their community's future.

Mark, get your facts straight, there are NO increases. Just because you folks keep telling lies over and over again is not going to make them come true!! "

Concerned Resident wrote on Sep 12, 2008 10:08 AM:

" The Vote Yes push has some good merits. However most of the school district residents in my opinion, don't have an issue paying for school improvements. It is the large dollar amounts slated for sport related functions (ie pool, field house).

As important as the athletic functions are, education should be first and foremost.

I fail to see the logic behind another "Vote Yes" push until some of the concerns the public has are resolved. "

Kim Boone wrote on Sep 12, 2008 9:09 AM:

" There are a lot of school districts that do not have a pool yet they spend their money on updated computers for the kids, Band instruments because not every child who wants to plat can afford the rental, Textbooks. That is the kind of things this school needs. Not a better SPORTS system.
I know a lot of people who did not vote this time and all of them would have voted no. So if it is put up again I will make sure everyone I know votes this time and you will lose by a whole lot more this time. "

Tracy wrote on Sep 12, 2008 8:59 AM:

" I have a few thoughts that may be unwelcomed. First I feel that Cassian/woodboro need to be removed from Rhinelander school district and moved to tomahawk. Second, how about a whole new school? If the community doesnt want to fix up the old and maintain the old, then lets start all over. Tear down the old and build new.
I have supported this referendum since April, I am sad that the other community members, mainly those in Cassian/woodboro cant support our kids when we supported theirs. "

Shameful wrote on Sep 12, 2008 8:55 AM:

" Are you kidding me?!?!! Have you gone to the high school? The children of this district should suffer because of the mistakes of some adults? It's tax neutral! What more do you want? Spend a day in the class room my dtr was in last year that had inadequate heat in the middle of winter! I can't even believe the closed-minded mentality of some people in this area. Look past the trees and see the whole forest! My heart goes out to the kids who will suffer for it. If we value the children of this community, the future of this community, and how all citizens in this community will be affected, we really do not have a choice but continue to work towards this. It is for the good of EVERYONE, why can't you see that? "

Mark wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:21 PM:

" Are you kidding me? The voters have said no to the increases! What do you not understand?

Another referendum would most likely seem as harassment...would it not?

Knock it OFF! A majority of our taxes already go to the school district.

Gas, groceries,taxes,property taxes, wages,....everything is taxed and taxed again.....enough is enough!

Maybe the teachers union needs to think about paying a little bit more for their pension and health benefits for working about 7 months a year to reign in the costs......but NO...we can't have that now can we? "

John Q wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:05 PM:

" Information gathering? There's one glaring piece of information the public GAVE by voting this down TWICE: they don't want the "field house" and/or pool. 45 votes? Who thinks the truly IMPORTANT part wouldn't have passed if those two things were made separate questions? There's a word for making people choose between supporting something they really don't and being made to feel like they're letting down their children and community: EXTORTION.

If those aren't made separate questions and this fails again, the no voters aren't the ones who should feel ashamed.

I'll vote yes in November regardless because it's better than the alternative. However, I wonder how many others vote no or hesitate to vote yes because it seems like the more money we give, the more careless government is with it. The 20 millionth dollar just doesn't seem to get us much further than the 10 millionth. "

Mike S. wrote on Sep 11, 2008 5:29 PM:

" The next referendum should be to limit referendums to 1 every four years. Who is it that keeps funding these vote yes comittees. Maybe the rich teacher's union. Enough. Fire Erdahl and then will talk. "

Interested wrote on Sep 11, 2008 4:09 PM:

" OK folks, should the School Board go for another referendum? If so what form should it take? "

Former resident wrote on Sep 11, 2008 11:52 AM:

" The only thing I can think of is the term "creative destruction". As far as Havel saying that quitting now is not acceptable I guess there may not be any other choice. Like I have said in previous posts maybe the whole town has to hit bottom first before a new identity can be built??? "

The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.