Moraine Park Technical College Blog - Imagine What's Next
  • Moraine Park Technical College
    • Login
Moraine Park Technical College Blog - Imagine What's Next
College Communications

Understanding Moraine Park’s Referendum Question

This election season, residents of the Moraine Park Technical College District will vote on a referendum authorizing the College to expand facilities- targeting high-demand areas through the following projects:

  • Advanced Manufacturing and Trades enhancements
  • Manufacturing, Automation and Robotics Lab expansion
  • Fire Training Facility (new construction)
  • Health and Human Services Facility enhancement

It’s no secret, ballot language is complex. To help you be prepared for Nov. 8–here’s what you can expect to see and what it means for you.

What You’ll See:

Shall the Moraine Park Technical College District, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds or promissory notes in an amount not to exceed $55,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of capital expenditures for the purchase or construction of buildings, building additions, remodeling and improvements, site improvements, the acquisition of sites, and the purchase of fixed and other equipment at District locations, including, but not limited to, advanced manufacturing facilities at the Fond du Lac and West Bend Campuses, a health and human services facility at the Fond du Lac Campus, and a regional fire training facility?

What It Means:

Moraine Park is seeking taxpayer approval to borrow $55 million.

The total project costs cannot be more than $55M.

This translates to an estimated tax increase of $1.75 per month or $21 per year for every 100,000 of property value.

This increase is temporary and will last for no more than 20 years.

Why is a referendum necessary to fund the projects?

By state law, the amount of money Moraine Park can spend on new buildings, additions, or land acquisition without going to voters is limited to $1.5 million per campus every two years. Any new buildings, additions, or land acquisition beyond the cap (not funded through gifts, grants, or federal funds) must be approved by voters in a public referendum. 

Similar to your local school district, our funding is a combination of local property taxes, state aid, and some federal dollars. Also, like schools, technical colleges are required to seek voter approval through a referendum to pay for major building projects.  

Our mill rate (which is used to calculate a technical college’s portion of property tax bills) has been declining in recent years.

In addition, we have never used a referendum to pay for facility projects. Therefore, we do not have any referendum debt.  

Our proposed projects are too large to be funded from our annual capital budget. 

Have questions? We will respond directly at morainepark.edu/future.

October 31, 2022by Kristina Haensgen
College Communications

Moraine Park Hosts FDL Community Forum

Moraine Park Technical College hosted a Community Forum on Sept. 15 regarding the College’s referendum in the November election. The forum took place both virtually and on the College’s Fond du Lac campus.

The Moraine Park Technical College District Board passed a resolution in June stating an intent to borrow $55 million to enhance campus learning spaces to meet future student and regional workforce needs through four projects across Moraine Park campuses and communities. In August, the Board approved the final ballot language, allowing the College to move forward with a referendum in the November election. Under state law, technical colleges must hold referendums before completing capital projects with a cost of more than $1.5 million.

Moraine Park’s Community Forums are an opportunity for the public to ask questions and learn more about the referendum. Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald presented about the referendum, and the forum ended with a Q&A. 

“Education is the key to economic growth in any community,” President Baerwald said. “Workforce growth is what will change our community. As a tech college, we are the change agents–a referendum is a way to make change and growth happen at a time when technology and automation is influencing industry so rapidly.”

The College will soon host Community Forums on the Beaver Dam and West Bend campuses. See the dates below.

  • West Bend – September 26, 11:45 – 12:45 p.m.; 2151 N. Main St.
  • Beaver Dam – October 3, 9 – 10 a.m.; 700 Gould St.

Learn more about the referendum at morainepark.edu/future.

September 15, 2022by Emilie Wilson

Follow us on social media

Categories

Achievement Administration Adult Education Alumni Auto & Transportation Business Career Center Clubs & Organizations College Communications Community Engagement Construction and Renovations Cosmetology Criminal Justice Culinary & Foods District Board Diversity Early Childhood Education ELL EWD Faculty and Staff Fair Trade Financial Aid Foundation General Education Graphics and Design Health Careers & Wellness Hired Before Graduation Human Services International Education IT & Web Manufacturing Marketing Natural Resources NEWERA New Student Welcome NTO Phi Theta Kappa Service Learning Student Life Student Services & Support Throwbacks Trades Uncategorized Veterans Video

RSS From our Newsroom

Recent Comments

  • Nancy Esposito on Culinary Students Hold “Chopped” competition
  • Mary Vogl-Rauscher on Passing on the Warmth
  • Kim Schwamn on Moraine Park Students Donate to Operation Christmas Child
  • Beau Gellings on EWD Welding Instructor – Dan Zoschke
  • Mike Gradinjan on Keeping the Lights On- Brad Hetzel
  • Becky Melo on Culinary’s Egg Bread Recipe!
  • Mary Koffman on Culinary’s Egg Bread Recipe!

Latest Tweets

  • Parents, we know your summer schedules fill up fast. Now is the time to register your child for Tech Knowledge Coll… https://t.co/VA9NzRSQmT11 days ago
  • Only one week until the start of the spring semester! Here a few tips that will help ensure a successful semester:… https://t.co/2hFG2rCTyQ13 days ago
  • Would you consider yourself a technology enthusiast? Let’s take your love of technology and turn into to a rewardin… https://t.co/7NFm5o87SM16 days ago

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

"Growing minds, businesses and communities through innovative learning experiences."

© 2021 copyright Moraine Park Technical College // All rights reserved //
imagine what's next