Does this mean no referendum in Ripon?

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the 400-plus school districts across the state would get $729.6 million under the recently-passed Stimulus package, including $317.2 million for construction. It also notes that 28% of the total number would come to Milwaukee, and "the U.S. Senate is almost certain to change the numbers when it takes up the economic package this week. Then Senate and House negotiators would need to meet to come up with a compromise bill."

Under the bill, the Ripon Area School District would receive $48,200 in 2009 and 2010 for the Title 1 program, which is the federal program aimed at raising the academic achievement of low-income students. The district would also receive $165,000 in 2009 and $189,800 in 2010 for its special education programs. In 2009, Ripon would receive $163,800 in stimulus money for "construction" projects. The big question, right now, is what constitutes "construction". According to Rachel Racusen, spokeswoman for the Democratic majority on the House Education and Labor Committee, the "construction" money could be used for a number of projects, such as the renovation of existing facilities, including improving energy efficiency, dealing with environmental hazards such as asbestos and repairing roofs might all be included. That is what the Journal-Sentinel paraphrased her as saying. "There's probably ways the funds could be used to build 21st century classrooms," Racusen said.

This begs the questions - Do we still need to go to referendum, or is the set of questions going to be altered? Ripon will pull in $614,900 in new federal funds over the next two years. Of course, by the time all of the parties in the Senate and the House agree on a final bill, the April referendum date may already be here. And, the cynic in me still points out this is not "free" money, just money we are borrowing for our children to pay back. But, I keep hearing more and more people saying, "Why not?", since the money is there. I argue this is why we are in this mess.