A common concern with any referendum is that it will increase our property taxes. Many people in our community are retired and on a fixed income and do not want to support anything that they feel could increase their already elevated expenses. The frustration is real. However, here are a few facts for you to consider:

1 The portion of your property taxes that you pay to help fund the school is based on property values in our area. Due to that fact, our school is funded dramatically lower than many schools in the state. (O-W is funded at $11,500 per student whereas some schools are funded at $26,000 per student.)

2. If this referendum passes, the portion of your property taxes that go towards the school will not increase, in fact they may even go down! That does not mean your property taxes as a whole may go down, but the portion that funds the school will not increase.
3. State law mandates that all children receive an education. If the school closes, your tax burden would not disappear; your property taxes would simply be redirected to a neighboring school within the new district boundaries.
4. If the school closes, consider how many businesses in our community will also close. Without any business to help with the tax burden, consider how that will impact your taxes. Consider how many people will move out of the area. Consider how that will affect your property value and sale price. Consider how that will affect your family and your generational wealth.