SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (WHBL) -- The results are in, and it seems like Sheboygan residents are ready for a school district funding referendum. The district sent out a survey to all of its residents earlier this year, asking questions on how much they'd support facilities improvements in the district.
Superintendent Joe Sheehan says the survey got very positive results. "It included a wide variety of all of Sheboygan, and 71 percent said they'd support or they leaned to be supporting the referendum." The school district sent out that survey to every household in the district in order to get a complete look at what residents were willing to support, and Sheehan says they got response from all sorts of families, including people without students.
School administrators want to repair a number of issues with the district's buildings, including revamping HVAC systems, repairing old roofs, and completing a new set of security upgrades across the district. Sheehan says that message seemed to reach the residents, and he's happy for the support. "We are blessed that our community is saying 'We understand. It's been eleven years, you said you wouldn't come back for ten, it's now been eleven. You're being prudent in what you're asking for and we will support it.'"
Current estimates on thecost of that referendum would raise taxes on the average household by about 4 dollars a year. The school board will take a look at the results tonight, and then Sheehan says the project moves to voter education. The district will bring the referendum up for a vote at the November presidential elections.