This Just In ...

Let's put a Franklin referenda argument to rest

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Oct. 24, 2012

On Election Day, November 6, 2012, the Franklin Public Schools administration will ask voters to cast ballots on not one, not two, but THREE tax and spend increase school facilities referenda. They are as follows: 

QUESTION NUMBER I

"Shall the Franklin Public School District, Milwaukee County,

Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the

Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed

$20,400,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of constructing an

academic addition with a secure main entrance to and remodeling and

renovation projects including expansion of science facilities at Franklin

High School; parking lot expansion; and acquiring equipment,

furnishings and fixtures?"

QUESTION NUMBER II

"Shall the Franklin Public School District, Milwaukee County,

Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the

Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed

$12,600,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of constructing an

auditorium addition for school and community use and music instruction

and various renovation projects at the Franklin High School including

expanding art instruction space; parking lot expansion; relocating athletic

practice fields; and acquiring equipment, furnishings and fixtures?"

QUESTION NUMBER III

"Shall the Franklin Public School District, Milwaukee County,

Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the

Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed

$15,800,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of constructing a

gym addition to and various remodeling and renovation projects which

include a secure main entrance, expansion of the cafeteria and music

instruction space at Forest Park Middle School; parking lot expansion

and site improvements; and acquiring equipment, furnishings and

fixtures?"

Let’s do the math. They’re asking you in these extremely tough economic times to approve THREE tax and spend increase proposals totaling:

$48.8 MILLION

They think money grows on trees, the ones in your backyards that endlessly keep funding their wants.

I will proudly vote NO on all three referenda for reasons I will expound upon in the next two weeks.

DISCLAIMER: No, I do not have children in the Franklin school system and have not since I moved into Franklin in 1992.

That means the public school tax and spend intelligentsia will attack me and many others that we have no say on these three issues. The folks in Franklin who do not have children enrolled in the system have as much right as every school parent to weigh in heavily since they pay the bills that are anything but cheap.

So, please, in the closing weeks before Election Day, property tax increase supporters, don’t insult us or yourselves by playing this card. You only look foolish and hurt your cause which is a tough one to begin with given what you’re asking for, why, and when.

If you agree, please forward this to your Franklin friends, neighbors, and beleaguered property taxpayers.

FRANKLIN, HELP STOP PROPERTY TAX BULLYING!