Conservative Hartford Group Gives Thumbs Down to Upcoming Referendum

West Bend Daily News:


Hartford referendums opposed

Taxpayers’ group reverses course, gives both proposals a thumbs down


    HARTFORD — A conservative watchdog group has changed its position on the two-question, $8.7 million referendum that the Hartford Jt. 1 School District is asking for on Nov. 2.

    Originally, the Hartford Area Taxpayers Association had come out as neutral on question 1, which is for $3.7 million and covers “critical” needs, including a new boiler system at Lincoln Elementary School, and against the second, $5 million question, which addresses “urgent” needs.

    But based on events at the Oct. 18 School District annual budget hearing, HATA has changed its position to oppose both questions.

    “The events at the budget hearing Monday, Oct 18, were shocking and eye-opening,” HATA spokesman Bill Savage said in a statement sent out Monday. “When the teachers’ union turns down a 2.75 percent raise in the worst economy in 70 years, you’ve got to say the teachers’ union is a major obstacle to keeping our schools running. Our K-8 school board and administrator don’t understand that the community cannot afford any more tax increases, the future is uncertain, the state has a $2.7 billion deficit, the school district is ‘five years away from bankruptcy’ according to (District Administrator Mark) Smits, and the school board is adding 4K to our list of responsibilities.”