Referendum Informational Meeting

Don't forget to attend if you want more information, and the facts, on the proposed referendum:

March 19 - Thursday - 06:30 PM
Referendum Informational Meeting @ RHS room 167

And in case you forgot what the questions are...

Question 1: Authorization to issue general obligation bonds not to exceed $500,000 to be paid within 10 years for a new boiler for Ripon High School and roof repairs for our school buildings. The estimated cost is 5 cents added to the equalized mill rate which translates to $5 for the owner of a $100,000 new home.
Question #2: Authorization to exceed the District’s revenue limit by $500,000 annually, for six years, to pay for updating curriculum, replacing textbooks, updating technology and computers, performing maintenance, and replacing vehicles. The estimated cost is 75 cents added to the equalized mill rate which translates to $75 for the owner of a $100,000 home.
Question #3: Authorization to exceed the District’s revenue limit in each year for three years to pay for classroom staffing and related instructional expenses as follows: $575,000 in 2009-10,$725,000 in 2010-11, and $850,000 in 2011-12. The estimated cost is 88 cents added to the equalized mill rate which translates to $88 for the owner of a $100,000 home.

Total Tax Impact: If all three referendum questions are passed, the estimated impact for the owner of a $100,000 home would be an increase of $7.75 per month over the owner’s 2008 taxes after taking into account the money saved from recent refinancing of District debt. The $7.75 per month increase translates into $93 per year for the owner of a $100,000 home for the next three years. If all three referendum questions are passed, the new tax rate would be $1.10 less than the 2004 tax rate which translates into a total tax bill of $110 less than in 2004 for the owner of a $100,000 home. Passage will maintain the current quality of Ripon’s schools.
2009 Tax Rate Would Be Lower Than 2004: The 1993 school tax rate in Ripon was $19.23 which was $1,923 for a $100,000 home. The 2008 school tax rate in Ripon had decreased to $9.20 which was $920 for a $100,000 home. The following graph shows the steady decline in the Ripon school tax rate during the past sixteen years. The dotted line beginning in 2009 is the projected tax rate if all three referendum questions are approved by the voters. The new 2009 school tax rate would still be $1.10 less than in 2004 which is $110 less for the owner of a $100,000 home.

(Information provided by the Ripon Area School District)