The Manitowoc Public School District is once again asking for more money to address facility issues.
On April 1st, the voters of Manitowoc will be asked if the MPSD borrow $25 million to “address critical facilities maintenance, safety, security and building infrastructure needs.”
These improvements would affect buildings district wide, and would include electrical main service upgrades, LED lighting and security cameras, HVAC and plumbing systems, and ADA elevators, ramps, and bathrooms, just to name a few.
This is the fourth referendum in seven years for the District, with all four of those passing.
Interim-Superintendent Lee Thennes gave an example of what the District is going through on an episode of WOMT’s The Jim and Rick Show.
“If I had a $1,000 a month mortgage on my house, and that’s really what I can afford for my home there, there’s going to be times where I need to fix my house, and some critical things may come up that I cannot afford within my budget,” he explained. “So what that means is my payment, let’s say $200 a month on the money that I’m going to borrow to fix my house, is going to have to come from somewhere else.”
But, he also noted that the District is doing everything it can to minimize the impact on the taxpayer.
“What we’re saying is we’re going to find that $200 within our own budget so that there will not be an increase passed on to taxpayers,” Thennes said.
On the MPSD factsheet, located on the District website, it is explained that the borrowing would add 16 cents per $1,000 of equalized value to the 2025-2026 school property tax rate.
That equates to $16 per $100,000 of equalized value for a home.
On the fact sheet, the District also notes, “We have aging buildings that were built in the 1920s, ’30s, ’50s and ’60s. Under state revenue limits, we had to prioritize staffing and programs over facilities. Many building components are at the end of their useful life. We need to make these improvements for the safety and security of our students, staff, and families.”
The district will be holding informational sessions on March 5th, 12th, and 19th, where they will answer questions from the public.
