Tomorrow, voters in West Bend decide on a $119-million school referendum.
If approved, it would be the largest referendum in the history of the state of Wisconsin.
School officials from all over the state are watching. School officials in Franklin aren’t just watching, they’re licking their chops.
If voters in conservative West Bend (remember, this is the same community that helped toss out my former colleague, Senator Mary Panzer, electing Glenn Grothman by a 4-1 margin) pass this referendum, you won’t be able to find lobster bibs big enough to soak up the drooling from the Franklin School Board.
Can you imagine the sheer delight of Sue Huhn, who though having announced that she won’t run again, is almost assuredly hell-bent to do some serious taxing and spending damage before she’s through.
Franklin taxpayers, you voted loudly and strongly on April 3rd. The Franklin School Board didn’t listen to you. Oh they were stung alright. But if you think they were going to take their ball and go home, guess again. All they did was go back to the tax and spend drawing board, waiting for the next time to stick it to you.
It started with their increase of their own school tax levy increase. And it won’t end until they come up with another costly school referendum.
That time could come very soon, especially if West Bend goes insane tomorrow. If the referendum is approved, Franklin will use that vote as their rationale to come back again with another sizeable tax increase. You can almost hear the Board members sitting around a table, chomping at the bit. “Why, if they can push that baby through in West Bend, we can get these suckers here to pass one, too! Isn’t that right Steve?”
Cue to Superintendent Steve Patz to nod his head in approval.
“Yes indeed, school board members. Whatever you say, school board members.”
So, if you’re a Franklin school administrator, official, school board member, or just part of the school machine, you are desperately cheering for West Bend voters to say YES.
If you’re a poor, lowly Franklin taxpayer who’s been screwed over time and time again and you don’t want school officials dipping even deeper into your pockets, you’d better pray they vote NO in West Bend tomorrow.
