Be an Informed Voter–Elections in 1 week

Soon, you will be asked to vote on a referendum authorizing the College to borrow $55M to expand facilities. Be informed when you get to the polls. Visit morainepark.edu/future for full project details. A few commonly asked questions are answered below.

Why are the proposed projects necessary?

Moraine Park Technical College plays a critical role in training students for jobs in our area. We serve more than 12,000 students at campuses in Dodge, Fond du Lac, and Washington counties. Our students pursue degrees in many high-demand areas and will fill job vacancies in our district communities. 

While our focus will always be on educating our students, we also need to develop a plan to update our buildings. After carefully reviewing the college facility needs for the past several years, we have determined that: 

Aging Facilities 

• Our fire training facility was built 25 years ago at the Beaver Dam campus. This facility is worn out, and the site is landlocked, preventing expansion. Controlled burns pose wind and weather challenges because it is located near Highway 151, a major four-lane road. 
• Many employers in our region are using robots and automation to design, build, and deliver goods. However, our advanced manufacturing and trades spaces are too small, unconnected, and cannot meet current demand. 
• Many of our healthcare instructional areas are aged and lack the technology and equipment now common in hospitals. 

Our Communities Need Our Alumni and Resources
Each year, over 2,000 skilled Moraine Park alumni begin their careers in our community; our alumni are a vital part of many local businesses in our district and Moraine Park is an educational partner to many.  

• There are expected to be more than 14,000 manufacturing job openings in our region in the next 10 years.  
• The healthcare field is one of the fastest growing in our region with over 8,000 job openings expected in the next 10 years.

Why doesn’t the College increase tuition to cover the projects?

The Wisconsin Technical College System sets the tuition rate each year for all technical colleges in the state. Moraine Park does not have the ability to raise or lower tuition rates.

What is the projected tax impact on our district property owners?

After more than a year of research, planning and stakeholder engagement, Moraine Park’s district board authorized a referendum package for four proposed projects not to exceed $55 million.

The projected tax impact of the $55 million facilities enhancement plan is estimated to be $21 per year per $100,000 of property value ($1.75 per month) for the next 20 years.