Facility plan slated to be in $20 million range

The price tag for the Cedar Grove-Belgium School District referendum that is expected to be held in spring is estimated to between $18 million and $22 million.

The referendum may maintain the current tax rate of $8.60 per $1,000 of equalized value, thanks to debt falling off.

The Committee of the Whole, which includes all the School Board members, this month took the next step toward the referendum in developing a community survey.

The committee on Aug. 11 went over the wording and other details of the survey developed by Slinger-based School Perceptions, which has worked with many districts on facility planning surveys.

The survey shows the district’s tax rate has fallen from $10.30 to $8.60 since 2015. It presents infrastructure and other upgrades and asks if people would support each set of plans.

At the elementary and middle school, building systems, such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems original from when the building was constructed in 1962, would be replaced. A new traffic flow system would be implemented to improve safety, and a music room would be added.

The middle school kitchen would be upgraded, and the band and gym bleachers would be updated to Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The pool and auditorium would also be upgraded.

At the high school, the technical education and family and consumer science areas would get improvements and the roof and floors would be replaced. New water heaters, boilers and ventilation systems would be installed, and internet infrastructure would be updated.

Additional options not included in the $18 million to $22 million plan include building a larger auditorium at the high school for $10 million that would replace the one at the middle school, and constructing a new pool at the elementary and middle school for $13 million.

According to the survey timeline, the School Board is expected to approve the final version on Sept. 8. District staff members are expected to receive the survey in late September, and the community would get surveys via mail in early October.

With debt falling off, the tax rate is slated to fall if the district doesn’t fill the gap with spending. The owner of a $200,000 home would pay about $330 less in taxes.

 Community forums were held in spring to present the facility plans.

A financial presentation made a couple of years ago by Lisa Voisin, managing director of Robert W. Baird of Milwaukee, that highlighted debt falling off sparked the idea for a referendum.

The district hired Bray Architects to do a facility study and develop building upgrade plans.