Curmudgeon's Corner

To my dismay I read the announcement that the bond issue was going to

be brought up again in November, I guess a "no" vote by this community to building a new school really means "maybe" to this school board! So lets try asking until we get the answer we want to hear! Then, on the heals of that announcement they announce that there is a projected deficit of over $600,000.00! Where do they plan on getting that money from?! With the economy struggling and the deficit they are facing,

this is not the time to build 16 million dollar school! I for one do not have a money tree in my fron yard. The board spins the cost of the school as only costing a taxpayer an additional $56.00 per year on a $200,000.00 home but what percentage of homes in GTown are $200,000.00 or less? Not many! So it will actually cost most of the homeowners substantally more for the next 20 years!

The board needs to get thier finances in order and they should reevaluate how much they really need to spend to build a new school and trim some fat from the $200.00 a square foot budget they are asking for! Other communities have found was to build a new school for sustantually less, half in some cases. And in a least one case has found a way to build a school without raising taxes at all.

They do not even have money budgeted for road improvements that will be needed, the additional staffing, or the cost to maintain the school,

Those costs must be taken into acount as well, those expenses are not free.

I am outraged that the School Board would actually ask for this again without taking another look at thier whish list for a new school!

I will vote NO again in November!!

GTT, while I agree that a rush back to the ballot is not the wisest choice, your complete ignorance to the very real "space shortage" being experienced by the District is disturbing.  The fact is that the rejection of the referendum did absolutely nothing to solve the space problem.  Many people have piped up with their opposition to building a new school, and the District has done a lot of research into exploring other options that might help solve the space shortage.

Without a successful referendum or other solution, the District's ONLY option will be to dramatically increase class sizes at the elementary level, unless you would rather they cut out art and music.

Opposing or supporting a referendum is an individual choice, but it would certainly be helpful if people would at least educate themselves on the true impact and ramifications of their decisions.

Concerned,

I am in fact very well informed that there is a space shortage in this district. I see it regularly. but the fact of the matter is that this

school board is asking the residents to fund a school that is way over designed. They need to look at the proposals again and find ways to bring the costs down to a reasonable amount, not the $200.00 per square foot they are asking for! As I said, other communities have spent much less to build. Also, just where is the additional money comming from to pay for the road improvements that will be needed, the additional staff that will be needed, and the cost to maintain this new

building? Out of each and every residents pocket on top what we will pay for the school! The board won't even acknowledge those additional expenses when asked! The board needs to get all there ducks in a row before they can expect the residents of Germantown to put up the money for this.

Instead of forcing the same referendum, which was rejected, why aren't we looking at some of these "other options" that Concerned referenced. Is the school board a little kid who's going to keep asking and asking because they think we are going to give in to a poorly conceived idea?

If the school board thinks the general election is going to bring more favorable voters - I think they are ignoring the anger that taxpayers will have at the fact they we are being fed the same referendum that was defeated before. I know I'll be asking my friends who didn't vote last time to send the school board a message that they need to listen to the voters. Maybe a 65-35 margin will get it through their heads.

I do agree with GTT - give all the true costs and give us some alternative to the Taj Mahal they want to build.

Al:

The media has once again misreported the actions of and issues before the Board of Education.  The reporters who make up those articles do not attend the meetings.  

There was no action on putting the school building issue on the November ballot.  Instead, the actual action was to direct the administration to pull together the appropriate materials and have it as a topic for discussion and possible action at the June 9 meeting of the Board.  

The media also misreported the financial issues.  Yes, the current year's expenditures are exceeding the revenues, and that's a significant issue.  And, it is being addressed.  As far as next year's expenditure budget being a deficit - that is misreprentation at best.  The 2008-2009 budget is just now being built, and the Board's Finance Committee is wrangling with the details.  A new approach to the expenditure budget process is being implemented, and what that process has revealed is that IF EXPENDITURE HABITS ARE NOT CHANGED FROM THE CURRENT YEAR there will not be adequate revenues to meet those expenditures.  That does not equate to a tax increase, but what it does equate to is obvious:  change your spending habits to match what is available.

Personally, I have identified and suggested $419,000 worth of expenditure reductions for next year, and also endorse another proposal by the administration that totals $120,000 more.  None of these have received official action yet.   The hard work in the process is just beginning.

I see that one "news article" says that a $2 million expenditure increase is expected.  I can refute that by stating that the Board's unanimous direction is to hold the increase to $1.24 million (see the Board meeting minutes of March 31, 2008 at www.germantown.k12.wi.us/.../Minutes%2003-31-08%20BOE.htm) which will produce another consecutive year of personal tax cuts in local school tax.

But why let facts and responsible reporting get in the way of a news story?

Where are the news stories about the accomplishments of students?  I do not recall any mention of some of the great news coming out of our schools, so I'll mention one:  Travis Serebin was recently named as Presidential Scholar, one of only 139 high school seniors in the US to achieve this prestige.  

Thanks, Bruce for adding your thoughts.  You seem to be the only school board member who is willing to actually communicate with the residents of Germantown.  My opinion:  the “throw it against the wall and see if it sticks” approach to the referendum did not work in February, so please don’t just try it again.  The larger voter turnout in November and the anger that will be generated by trying the exact same thing again will only lead to a more resounding defeat.   Before moving forward with another new school proposal, there absolutely must be some honest discussion of what the incremental operating expenses of a new school would cost the owner of that fabled $200k home in Germantown, not just the debt costs of $56.  That issue has been entirely skirted by the board to date.  The attitude seems to be “we don’t intend to budget for additional costs, therefore they won’t exist”.  

Rockfield can be expanded!  It has only two tracks of each grade now, which seems inefficient.  I am not convinced that with a little creativity MacArthur or Kennedy could not be expanded as well.  A two story addition on either could be just what we need for the next 5 years or so.  Five elementary schools in a village the size of Germantown seems excessive and inefficent.  

It would be awfully fun to engage in a swordfight here, but I won't get down to your level (GTT or Taxedtothemaxbecauseimtrash).  It is obvious to me and everyone else that you're both just bent on making up lies and threats to further your causes. The sad part is, you spout those lies with so much indignity that some people might actually think you have some credibility.

How many of you, or others, actually went to one of the district's informational nights and asked your questions in person? or is doing things in person against your basic principles?  have you ever bothered to attend a school board meeting or one of their committee meetings and listened?  they've been working on this problem for six years, people!!! it's not new, and it's not going away.  We need space in the grade schools, we aren't the same little community this place was 20 years ago when some of the schools received their last additions.  And besides, this is the twentyfirst century, there are more expectations and more learning opportunities for children, and new ways to teach.  (Obviously some of you need to take advantage of this stuff, too!)

There is no school being proposed that's a "Taj Mahal" or costs $200 a square foot, I wish you people would be honest and factual and not make up lies to make yourselves seem knowlegable.  This school site is an abandoned farm field, for crying out loud - there's no grass, there's no driveways, there's no sewer, electricity, gas lines, parking lots - and believe it or not, all of the added costs to make the school site fit the ridiculous landscape and storm water pond requirements of the Village of Germantown.  Schools require things like tables, desks, telephones, lockers, computers, blackboards, cabinets, musical instruments, gym equipment, and oddly enough - BOOKS.  All of those things are included in the pricetag.  I think the school board did a great job in making sure everything is included, so it's just plain stupid to take the total cost and divide it by the floor space and get a number.  Oh, and for what it's worth, there's not an office building in the area that gets built and furnished for $200 a square foot.  Welcome to 2008, quit living in your past life.

I've heard the board members like Mr. Warnimont say time and time again, the costs for staffing, operating and maintaining the new school will come out of whatever their ordinary budget will be, they'll make it work.  (Besides, not many brand new buildings need maintenance and repair, do they? hmm?)  Do you people not know that the school board can only base their costs for running the schools based on the total number of students in the schools, that there are laws that dictate what the tax can be, and they can't just increase taxes at will?  Are you really that uninformed?

Honestly!  if you people are the sort of people that have taken over this community, it's really sad.  To think that a school can be made into a two story building between the middle of June and the middle of August is ridiculous.  Did you happen to think that children and construction sites don't mix?

Just what is it that you people are afraid of?  I think you're afraid of educating little people who will quickly become smarter than you are.

Another Concerned Resident -- I think the problem is that while "board members like Mr. Warnimont say time and time again, the costs for staffing, operating and maintaining the new school will come out of whatever their ordinary budget will be, they'll make it work", it is hard to believe that they could actually make it work without some serious cuts to other spending and programs within the district.  A brand new building does indeed require maintenance, and would also come with a lot of incremental costs, including janitorial, utilities, snowplowing, grass cutting, and probably most significantly, duplicate support staff.  I just think there needs to be some discussion and accounting for all of this.  When it is all tallied up and communicated, the majority of voters in Germantown may conclude that it is worth it and vote in favor of the referendum.  But right now people feel they are being handed a load of baloney when they are told it will only cost them $56.

Where to begin...

1) ACR. Your arrogance and self rightous attitude is exactly why so

many of us "uneducated simpletons" vote against these school referendums. The condesending remarks of the educational elite such as

yourself only hurt your cause. So keep it up!!

2) Bruce Warnimont. I asked you repeatly for the facts on the costs

involved with this new school and you basically told me that I was to

stupid to understand the "complex nature" of school financing. You told me that this was covered and that taxes would not be going up.

Well lets see. The district is short 600K. I guess that was not exactly the case now was it.

Bruce in your post you also made a few statements that I just cant let

go by without a comment.

A) "I see that one "news article" says that a $2 million expenditure increase is expected.  I can refute that by stating that the Board's unanimous direction is to hold the increase to $1.24 million (see the Board meeting minutes of March 31, 2008 at www.germantown.k12.wi.us/.../Minutes%2003-31-08%20BOE.htm) which will produce another consecutive year of personal tax cuts in local school tax. "

Bruce 1.24M increase is a tax increase not a cut. A cut is a reduction in spending. So if the district reduces their spending from say 23 million dollars to 22 million dollars that is a tax cut. If you raise spending by 1.24 million that is a tax increase.

B)"A new approach to the expenditure budget process is being implemented, and what that process has revealed is that IF EXPENDITURE HABITS ARE NOT CHANGED FROM THE CURRENT YEAR there will not be adequate revenues to meet those expenditures.  That does not equate to a tax increase, but what it does equate to is obvious:  change your spending habits to match what is available."

Bruce, this is a new thought process to the school board, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!. Spend what you have available. WOW did the board go to a

seminar for that? How deep, how existential. Bruce I am so glad that the board is now joined the real world and can only spend the funds availbale.

In conclusion, if the board comes back with this referedndum again, you best explain every expenditure from the staffing expenses to the paper clips before the taxpayers will support you. You had your chance and blew it. To bad for you and the kids that actually could benefit from

improved facilities.

ACR - take a chill pill and calm down. If you must know I hold a graduate degree and actually teach at the graduate level. I'm sorry if my intelligence doesn't meet your lofty standards.

Irwin and Gtownie make some great points. I've seen my share of school boards in the 20+ years I've been a home owner on the northwest side of Milwaukee. The dollar figures are always lowballed to try and get the referendum passed.

While I appreciate Bruce W's comments and the fact that he takes the time to answer questions, but don't spit on my cupcake and call it frosting. Why would you dirct someone to prepare a referendum if you weren't planning on putting on it on the ballot?

Why are you so dead set on having a new school on Donges Bay. I'm no geography major, but it seems to me that most of the southern area of G-town is pretty well developed. Most of the future expansion in G-town is going to come from the parts that aren't developed as much - like the area near Rockfield. I'm guessing that some school board member or someone that works for the school district has a child in the Donges Bay area, and wants a new school for their kid. You can name call all you want, but that's usually why this stuff gets put on the ballot.

If you really need new space, Rockfield is the most economical location. Please don't bring up geography as an issue in a village the size of Germantown.

Now the intentionally uninformed are just spewing stupid thoughts.

ACR, I am glad you don't want to come to my level for this discussion because you have truely shown what level you are at with your condescending comments, you have called myself and others liars and ignorant in the span two postings without even knowing who we are. I in fact have been to one of the meeting that were held before the last election, and tried to get some answers from the school board members. When I asked where the money was going to come from for the road improvements that will be needed, I was told with a wave of the hand, and I will use the exact quote " well you do not need to worry about that cause you pay for that with your taxes anyway". No you really don't, the village has a budget to work with and if this is not in the planned budget, where do you think it will come from? That's right an increase in your taxes. You even stated in your own posting "there's no grass, there's no driveways, there's no sewer, electricity, gas lines, parking lots". Will the money to complete these improvements just appear?

I asked how many new staff will need to be hired. I was told that some staff would be moved from other schools, which is fine, but how many new staff will be needed and at what additional cost. The answer I got was we do not have that number. The fact is, any additional staff that would be hired would increase the operating budget of the school district. Where would that money come from? Again, increase taxes. I asked, do you have money budgeted for maintenance and overhead of simply operating the school. I was answered with a blank stare. By just building the school and turning on the lights, the operating budget of the school district will increase. That will result in additional taxes as well.

As far as your comment that Schools require things like tables, desks, telephones, lockers, computers, blackboards, cabinets, musical instruments, gym equipment, and oddly enough - BOOKS.  All of those things are included in the pricetag. You are correct but, the suppies needed are a small percentage of the cost. And yes you do need to take those costs into account when you figure your costs. If you want to pull those out to figure the cost per square foot to make youself feel like it is a deal go ahead, but don't try to spin those numbers with me.

Take a look at what some of the specs are for this building plan, and if you know anything about construction you will see that there are areas that could be scaled back. This board needs to go back and ask what can be done to save some money. Has any of them even considered doing that before they try to arrogantly stuff this down our throats again?

The reason that the building needs to be on Donges bay Rd is that the school district already owns the property. It is adjacent to a park, on sewer and water and centrally located. By owning the land there is no cost of acquisition.

ACR, your comments are rude, condesending and insulting. Thanks for posting them because it shows the community just how arrogant the educational elite are in this community and will do nothing but hurt your cause. Good Job:)

  The reason the Donges Bay locationwas picked is because the School District owns the property, sewer & water is there, children are there being bussed away from there because of all the new housing but no real addition in school size in the past 15 years.

  The reason road repair is not the District's concern is because the Village is responsible for road repair, not the School District. Gov. Doyle removed $600 mil. from the State road budget two years ago so he could spend it elsewhere. This year he plans to take $1 billion from the D.O.T. for the same reason. Germantown used to get funds from the State for roads, but because the Village put a tax freeze on six years ago and spent no money on roads since then, the State looked and decided that we don't need money from them.

  The last several years, the Germantown tax rate stayed the same or went down, not because of the Village but because the School District taxes went down. When the District raised their spending a few years ago, the Village caught the blame, not the School District. Lately when the taxes didn't go up much at all, the Village got the credit, not the District. I've always wondered why the School District can't keep the rate where it was and save the money for expansion or repairs. Maybe there is a law that you have to spend what you get, you can't save it I don't know that much about the laws pertaining to State & Fed. laws controlling them. I do know that it would be folly to even try to put the same referendum on the Nov. ballot without substantial change and/or greater explainations.

If you expand Rockfield do you have to purchase any land? Sell the land at Donges Bay and use the money to build the expansion which noone is showing me that we need.

According to wisconsin.publicschoolsreport.com/.../Germantown.html the highest student teacher ratio is 15.9. That doesn't sound like overcrowding to me. (I have no idea of the accuracy of this web site, but if someone has the number - I would like to see it.)

Taxed,

When I made that same comment at the information meeting,I was told that it was not logistically feasable to expand Rockfield. I guess it makes more sense to build a new 16.5 million dollar school within 3 miles of not one but two elementary schools makes more sense. That way in a few more years when that end of the village is heavily developed, the school board can ask for more money to expand Rockfield or build another school because it isn't feasable to bus the kids an extra 5 or 10 minutes across the village.

Charlie, you are right the board doesn't look at the road improvements that will be needed as their concern which is a cop out, but the fact is someone will need to pay for it somehow, the work will not be done for free. The reason the road improvements (it is not just repair) will be needed is indeed due to to the district if this passes.

I have never heard any explanation of why it would not be "logistically feasible" to expand Rockfield.  An independent firm should be engaged to draw up plans with cost estimates to expand Rockfield to a three (or four) track school.  If their plans are determined to be excessively costly or undesirable for some fundamental reason that I am currently unaware of, then that idea will be set aside.  Until then, one can only assume that the person who told GTT that it was not "logistically feasible" to expand Rockfield really meant it is not "personally desirable to me".

The board has a huge problem; they are just plain out of touch.  Can't add on to MacArthur?  Really?  As I gaze out my window, there is plenty of space for a two story addition to help fill the need.  No parking? Make an offer for some of G-towns less impressive homes nearby.  Besides, EVERYONE knows that it makes the most sense to expand Rockfield.  Remember people, just because its called the GERMANTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT doesn't mean that the people beyond the village don't pay taxes too.  Those living around Kinderburg don't want an elementary school there without COMPLETE sidewalk coverage as traffic in there area is absolutely horrible in the morning. I'm quite positive they wouldn't want the extra assessment to build them.

I've never heard why it is unfeasable to expand Rockfield School. The only reason I can think of is Sewer and water are almost two miles away. Also, the MMSD & Village 2020 land use plan doesn't plan on allowing it there until then, at the soonest so there won't be the dense population there for many years, if at all. As far as CPL CACHE's comment about some "less impressive homes" that could changed to a parking lot, that's just not right. I live in a condo that most of you would call "less impressive", but to me, it's home."

Well, I will tell you that it was Cari Brust that told me that it was not feasable to expand Rockfield. She said that the board felt it would take to much time to bus the kids that get rezoned there. Also that there would be additional costs incurred with the bus company due to the distance. When I asked if the additional costs would add up to 16.5 million, I recieved a blank stare. The additional time to bus would be minimal, Germantown is not that big.

There was no mention of Sewer and Water being the driving force.

GTT - That comment explains everything in a nutshell. They don't look at anything on a cost/benefit analysis - it's all about what they want.

I can't believe that a bus ride across the entire village would take more than 10-15 minutes. I live on one side of Germantown and work on the other side and it only takes me 5 minutes in a car (or I can ride my bike in under 15 minutes). I understand a bus may take slightly longer than a car.

I'll say it again - there is some other reason as to why they want that school there. They just are telling us. Rockfield expansion is so obvious to everyone that thinks about it for more than a minute.

I agree with Charlie - there is no reason to displace anyone from their home, no matter what someone else thinks of it.

Some of these comments are just plain stupid, if not ignorant.  

1. The decision to add on to Rockfield has absolutely NOTHING to do with transportation, and everything to do with the septic capacity and the State not allowing them to expand it.  Taxedtothemax, please look into the septic issues at Rockfield, so you can move on to some other excuse.

2. The Donges Bay site is the best for a couple of reasons.  One, they own it, and two, the District would save on transportation because of all the students who live within 1 mile of County Line School who are currently transported all the way out to Amy Belle.  If they actually increase the capacity where the kids actually live, it will create the available space at both Amy Belle and Rockfield to accomodate the growth occurring there.

3. So now anybody can decide that a home is "less than impressive", and thus the District can just buy it and tear it down?  That's brilliant!

4. Once again, please remember that the space issue has been studied by two independent citizen committees over the past 8 years, and they've come to the same conclusion.  There truly is a need for more space.  Can anybody really offer up a realistic and workable solution without hurling insults and false accusations at others?

5. Many of you claim to be opposed simply because of taxes, yet why aren't you beating down the doors of local government officials protesting the fact that you are paying twice as much to MATC as you would to either WCTC or Moraine Park.  The savings from such a switch would amount to over 400% of the annual projected cost of the proposed new school building.  Why worry so much about $56 and continue to ignore being overcharged by $250 per year?

CPL CACHE-

As you gaze out your window, you can't understand why MacArthur can't be expanded. So does this mean that you live in one of the "less impressive" homes in Germantown. I would really hate to think that you are one of my neighbors. On a side note, there are 7 members of the GFD who live in the neighborhood behind MacArthur, all of whom happen to love where they live and the house that they live in.

Now, back to what I think is the real issue. I am all for a new school. However, my minimal college education has taught me that if something is voted down by a majority of the people, you look at the reasons why and make some changes before you propose it again. Why not have a few meetings and see if the reasons are fact based or misinterpretations. Maybe get a few new ideas from John Q Public, go back and tweek your proposal and try again.

Niki Brandt

Because it isn't going to be $56 a year and everyone knows it.

CGR,

I dont know where to start with you on your last comment....

1) I asked the question about expanding Rockfield to the board Cari Brust and she looked me in the eyes and did indeed say that transportation was the driving issue.My wife was standing right next to me and can absolutly confirm this statement. So if there is another reason that it is not an option then the board needs to have thier answers to questions correct and have the documents from the study that should have been done to verify that the septic capacity cannot be increased.

2)You say that "The decision to add on to Rockfield has absolutely NOTHING to do with transportation" but in the next paragraph you say"

the District would save on transportation because of all the students who live within 1 mile of County Line School who are currently transported all the way out to Amy Belle". First, does this savings add up to 16.5 million dollars? Second please don't try to imply that Amy Belle is a signifigant distance to drive because it is not, it takes me 10 minutes to get there and I live on the opposite end of where it is!

3)You State "please remember that the space issue has been studied by two independent citizen committees over the past 8 years, and they've come to the same conclusion.  There truly is a need for more space.  Can anybody really offer up a realistic and workable solution without hurling insults and false accusations at others?"

You are correct that there is a need for more space an I agree with that but, I know for a fact that at least one of those comitties did not recommend building a new school. What I do not agree with is not quesioning the board on the amount of money they WANT to spend vs. the

amount of money they NEED to spend, and if all other options have been exhausted.  You Still have not addressed my question of where the money will come from for the road improvements, additional staffing, and overhead.

As for insults and false accusations, I have posted neither!

You, instead have called us ignorant and liars.

4) As far as your comment about MATC, I 100% agree with you and I have spoken to local officials. Your $56.00 comment though, is way off base. as I stated before the majority of homes in GTown are well over $200,000.00 and those residents will have to pay much more than $56.00 for the next 20 years!

I also agree with your point in your 3rd statement.

Niki - Yes, I do live in one of G-town's less impressive houses - it’s not a dig, it is a statement of fact and I'm very proud of my home. How many of our neighbors don't bother to take care of their homes? Frankly, there are too many of them and it brings down all of our values. Some would be better of as parking lot space for the school.  If the board had to buy some homes for expansion, the price would certainly be affordable. I find it funny that they are absolutely set on building on the property that it owns between two of the higher end subdivisions in town. When was the last time an "affordable" house was built new in Germantown that wasn't surrounded by $400,000 monuments to two income families?  I challenge you to show me one young couple with kids who can afford to buy a $150,000 house then show me what they have to pick from in Germantown.  

Charles, I'm really happy for you and your condo - they are a nice change of pace from all the apartments and two family town homes with absentee landlords that cover the village. Funny, that was exactly what was recently proposed in the area near the school – more condos. If this indeed the former village president, I'd like to thank you for the job the village did on our recent storm sewer project. There's nothing like striving for mediocre – if you’re not going to see the job done right the first time, then don’t bother to do it at all.

CGR - I'm quite proud of my brilliance, it has and continues to serve me well. Properties are purchased all the time and torn down, in most cases its called progress.  If some actual city planning had been done beyond cramming strip malls and empty business parks in everywhere, there would be no need to tear down anything. So what that the state says septic expansion is limited. I agree with the point to put Rockfield on sewer and water.  We can run it across the highway to the trailer park but not to a residential area that can benefit from it?

Rockfield's issue is plain and simple a septic capacity problem.  Nothing more.

The sewer line being run to the "trailer park" is paid for by the owners of that trailer park, not tax payers. Also, it is in the "sewer service area". Rockfield school isn't.

Many of you can't seem to figure out that the School District and the Village are two distinctly separate organizations.  The School District does not build roads, sewer lines, or approve cramming in strip malls.

So it's going to cost more than $16 million to run a sewer to Rockfield??

CGR,

You are once again speaking with the same condescending arrogance as before! Usually a sign of someone who feels their arguement is failing.

We or at least I am aware that the two are distinctly seperate organizations! You still have not answered my questions of where the money is going to come from to improve the road, install sidewalks, install the sewer lines along with the additional overhead ect...for this new school! Your silence on these questions speaks volumes! You have no answer just like the school board!

The question of where would the money come from to run sewer to Rockfield School is a moot point. MMSD will not allow sewer lines run outside the sewer district, even if it is just across the street, let alone 1 1.2 to 2 miles. You're looking at 2015 at the soonest, probably after 2020 since the 2020 Sewer Service Area has been outlined and approved by the Village Board. Another question I have is why do grade schools need a full size gymnasium? That's a waste of space & money.  

To Charlie Hargan:

Schools need a full size gymnasium for gym classes?  Assemblies?  Plays and musicals?  Monthly school socials that build the school community?  Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts?  After school care programs run by the YMCA?  Your Park and Rec department use, for things like Bucketeers in the winter time and adult basketball and volleyball year-round?  And rental (yes, rental) to outside groups?

Speaking of a waste of space and money, how's your pet project TIF #4 doing these days?  What was that cost to the taxpayers, around $27.4 million dollars?  That you didn't ask permission to spend or saddle your village with an insurmountable debt with?  Or how about that $3 million village hall, the one you held a referendum on, got rejected - STOMPED ON! - by the voters, and you built it anyhow? As you said then, "I think it's just time to do it."

I do appreciate your honesty in acknowleging that village tax rates keep going up and school taxes keep going down.

Lest we forget:

"Over the past several years, the Germantown Business Park has become a burden - and, eventually, property taxpayers might have to provide a bailout.  To repay their debt, the village needs $1.9 million per year. The business park, however, has not generated enough revenue - through land sales and property taxes paid by businesses that locate there - to cover the debt payments.  Village officials estimate that the business park will be able to cover its debt payment in 2008. But unless the sale and development of land in the business park pick up dramatically, it is unclear how the $1.9 million debt payment for 2009 will be made. As of now, the village estimates that it could be $1 million short on the debt payment.  Including interest, the borrowing will cost the village more than $33 million."  (from Milwaukee Journal)

The Dept of Revenue says TIF 3, which is the bulk of the industrial park surrounding our high school, has a value of $74,535,800.   Too bad none of those properties pays school tax:  if they didn't have to bail out the failure of TIF 4, they'd be on the tax rolls now and paying about 5% of the school district tax.  Or to put it another way, the rest of us have to pay 5% more school tax than we should have to.

One of the problems with the Internet is that it is too good of a resource for information that politicians in (or now out of) village government want us to forget.  These stories from the Milwaukee Journal archives are an example.

March 22, 1995:  "The Village Board took the next step toward building a new village hall with the hiring of HNTB Corp., a Milwaukee architectural firm.  The firm will be paid $34,720 to begin design work for a new village hall. The board earlier approved the concept of building a new hall on municipal land next to the library and Police Department on Mequon Road. No formal approval has been given for the project."

March 20, 1996: "By a 58% to 42% ratio, Germantown voters defeated spending no more than $2.8 million to construct a Village Hall on 10 acres of village-owned land southwest of the intersection of Mequon Road and Western Ave. This was an advisory referendum, and the Village Board will have to decide how to deal with the crowded Village Hall.  After the results were announced, Village President Charles Hargan said he hoped the Village Board could agree to build a smaller Village Hall than the 24,000-square-foot which was proposed to the voters."

April 17, 1996:  "The Village Board decided Tuesday night to build a new Village Hall on 10 acres at the southwest corner of Mequon Road and Western Ave. But the board delayed deciding just how big the new hall should be, which departments should be housed in it and how much it should cost."

July 17, 1996:  "More than 12 years of debate over the need for a new village hall has ended with a decision to go forward with a downsized version of the new building.  Construction is expected to begin this fall on a 16,000-square-foot building on land southwest of the Duerrwaechter Memorial Library. The construction should take about one year to complete.  Trustees voted, 7-2, Monday night to approve $1.875 million in borrowing."

November 8, 1996:  "A Germantown impact fee to help pay for a new village hall was declared invalid Thursday by a Washington County circuit judge. The ruling gives Germantown officials the choice of appealing the decision or issuing refunds to property owners and developers. The impact fee has been collected for new houses built in the Country Meadows, Sunberry Downs and Windsong subdivisions. The impact fee has been in effect since October 1995. It amounts to about $280 per residential unit."

So the village board, led by Charlie Hargan, spent $35,000 in tax dollars for architectural design on an oversized building whose price tag was more than the taxpayers could accept, and when the boards plan got rejected by the voters, they immediately decided to build a new village hall anyhow and deliberately locked the voters out of the process the second time around.  Later they found out that their plan for funding part of the construction was illegal, so taxes had to be increased more.

Personally, I'm not going to close my mind to these school board people:  I figure they've earned some of my respect and it just might be they've got information that I didn't receive the last time around.  They get jerked around so much by the Madison crowd and the federal government, maybe there's something brewing that we just haven't heard yet. Hey, people, at least they're asking us, and not sticking us with huge debts that will never get paid off.