Facilities Project Moves Closer to Reality

While keeping a watchful eye on the happenings in Madison and the impact Gov. Scott Walker’s budget will have on the district, the Whitnall School Board moved one step closer to breaking ground on its new high school athletic facilities.

At a school board meeting Monday evening, the board unanimously approved the motion to secure financing in the form of general obligation bonds in the amount of $6.5 million.

Superintendent Lowell Holtz said district attorneys will now draw up a resolution that will likely be presented to the board for final approval Monday, March 14.

The final resolution is contingent on any unexpected announcements by Walker in regards to his state budget, which is expected to cut state aid to schools statewide by at least $900 million.

“Whenever anything changes, the Finance Committee, especially in this day and age, needs to stay on top of it and say, ‘What’s in the best interest of the community going forward?’” Holtz said.

Prior to the school board meeting, the Finance Committee weighed three scenarios. Scenario 1 was to use $6.5 million of fund balance over three years, with $1 million in 2010-11, $2.5 in 2011-12 and $3 million in 2012-13.

Scenario 2 had the district using $3 million of fund balance – $1 million in each of the next three fiscal years – and borrowing $3.5 million in general obligation bonds.

Scenario 3, the plan that passed, calls for the district to borrow $6.5 million in general obligations bonds.

According to district business manager Amy Kohl, utilizing the fund balance would negatively impact the district’s equalization aid received from the state and would result in a higher tax rate in 2011-12.

“If we would use our fund balance, the state looks at that and says, ‘You obviously have too much in your fund balance’ and you see a decrease in state aid,” Holtz said.

Holtz said work on stadium improvements, the most costly part of the stormwater management and activity fields project, could begin as soon as April.

Stadium improvements include installing a turf field, an eight-lane running track and new bleachers, field lighting and pressbox. Other phases of the project include upgrading the softball and baseball fields, renovating the existing tennis courts and adding three new ones, and renovating the student parking lot.