There wasn't a point. Simply questioned the figures. However, if you say so......

yes...we are assessed at $350,000.00......what's your point?

booner....$600 additional tax dollars per year? Your assessed value on your home is upwards of $300,000.00? Just checking.

Where to start.

1. I agree with several comments that we need to become informed before we can start talking about "facts". Milton actually has had a growing student enrollment at least for the past 5 years, anywhere from 50-100 kids a year. <a href="http://data.dpi.state.wi.us/data/graphshell.asp?fullkey=02361203ZZZZ&CompareTo=PRIORYEARS&DN=Milton&Group=AllStudentsFAY&SN=None+Chosen&TYPECODE=6&CTY=53&ORGLEVEL=DI&STYP=9&GraphFile=GROUPS&DETAIL=YES">click here</a>

2. Milton and Janesville did talk a few years ago about Milton giving Janesville some of the land back. Janesville was interested, but in the deal they wanted to pick and choose some other areas to take back as well, high priced housing areas. In the end, it would have hurt Milton more than helped.

I agree that 80 million is alot and we need to see what kind of fall out comes from GM, Lear, LSI, etc closing. Right now the schools are full so the building is not about getting the lastest and greatest..it is about getting space for the students to learn in.

The mill rate number that was given was a high side number. There is a really good chance that it will be less. And then after the second year, which would be $270 on a $150,000, the amount would start to go down.

My taxes would be affected but I do think this is something we really need to look at doing. I know there will be more information and more meetings and I encourage everyone to watch for those and attend. That is the best way to hear all the facts and make your choice based on them.

Thanks for reading.

thinkbeforeyousepeak: why do I need to educate myself on the issue to determine I don't want to pay an additional $600.00 in property taxes each year? This is the first article I read. What's your point. Are you trying to tell me that if I knew more about the issue, I would want to pay additional property taxes? I think not. There is nothing the school district (or you) could say to convince me that this is a good idea.

Milton School District would never agree to giving up those students or houses or subdivisions back to Janesville. They would be losing valuable tax dollars as well as effecting the student counts that have an impact on the state level. It would be shooting themselves in the foot to let any land or students go back to a neighboring district. They need to show an increase and growth in enrollment in order to sell this $80 million dollar project as a "NEED" and not just a "WANT" to the public.

As I said earlier.......it does not cost $80 million dollars to teach our children the most valuable life lesson of living within your means. Sometimes living within your means, means not having the "latest and greatest and biggest" of everything but rather making the most of what you have. Milton, lets make the right and prudent decision on this one and teach our children, by our example, the importance of make responsible financial decisions.

JimP - I'm sure Milton would love to give Janesville back these kids to make room for kids who actually live in Milton. They have been trying to get Janesville to renegotiate the boundaries for some time but Janesville won't budge. Probably because then janesville would be overcrowded and need a new school!

Janesville will need those students that are now in the Milton district soon to make up for the shortfall in the coming years. It is always nice to have new things that one can AFFORD. And Thinkbeforeyouspeak, Take a break from Your cutting comments.

Not only is the district not growing MIlton they should consider giving up some of the school district territory to Janesville. I know they take head counts VS dollars from the state but no where has that ever proven productive for taxpayers.

To thinkbeforeyouspeak......please think before you speak! Your comments are condesending at the least. You stated you were not necessarily infavor of this referendum yet you are certainly defending it. If it is important to you and the district, take the time and thoroughly and kindly inform people of the merits of such a building proposal. If it truly is the best thing for the district then the support will follow.

It is a tremendous amount of money to be asking people to approve. 80 million dollars! Our district is NOT growing. Construction has halted in nearly all subdivisions. Some of these developers are in bankruptcy and home owners are losing their homes to foreclosure! The district needs to consider the difficult economic times we are in and ask themselves if now is really the right time to build? I am sure we would all love a new building and would love our children to have the newest and best school possible but we need to be realistic in what we want and what we can afford! Living within our means is not always easy but it is certainly the greatest lesson we can teach our children.(and it doesn't cost $80 million dollars).

It is time for the Milton schools to re-evaluate if there is really a need for the new high school. The previously completed study showing the need included the 1200 houses that were going to be built in the new housing addition between sr 26 and county Y. Only 5 houses built there and no probability of any more for some time. Do we still need a new high school built with the many people leaving from GM. For all who care, we need non-emotional re-evaluation of spending this amount of money when it is obvious the tax base is decreasing.

Most school Districts are cutting back with the declining enrollements..with the lack of new construction and failing subdivisions..what are we doing? ..Did we just not add on to the high school??? I need to see some facts from the school board before I vote yes

In an effort to stimulate your learning, I will ask that you research the following;

1. How many students is this school designed for, taking into account current enrollment, and future predicted enrollement. How does that jive with your "too much money" proclamation?

2. What were construction costs 5 years ago, and what are they predicted to be 5 years from now? How does that jive with your "too much money" proclamation?

3. What is the current bond rate? Is it relatively low? How does putting off the construction increase the costs of this project? How does that jive with your "too much money" proclamation?

It appears you're less than informed on the issue. Yes, there's going to be a referendum. Have you not been following the extensive coverage of this design team, their tasks, and how they relate to a referendum that is REQUIRED? I suspect this is the first article you read, are ill informed on the subject, and its many dynamics, however are quick to nominate yourself to LEAD the opposition. I suggest you take the time to educate yourself on all aspects before so boldly proclaiming yourself as willing to "head" something up. I'm not necessarily in favor of building this school immediately. However, what I am in favor of is members of the voting public taking the time to learn about all the aspects on topics such as this, before making such shallow and ill-informed comments.

That's way too much money. Is there going to be a referendum on this? If so, I will head up the "vote no" campaign ASAP.