Triton Task Force Advises Against Referendum

By Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.

Jun. 20–DODGE CENTER — The Triton School Board is faced with deciding how to address the district’s budget woes after a task force recommended against seeking a $15 million referendum.

The task force told school officials earlier this month that it would be a mistake to bring a referendum to the voters this fall like the $14 million proposal defeated last fall. Under that plan, the district would have closed the middle school in West Concord and expanded the Dodge Center building.

But a district survey showed little support among voters for consolidating to one location, said Superintendent Robert Kelly.

To maintain the two buildings, Kelly said, the district needs an additional $300,000. He said board members this summer will have to decide whether to ask voters to approve a levy override this fall. Officials also will likely consider whether to ask voters to approve a $3.5 million bond issue to build an auditorium at the Dodge Center site.

In addition, health and safety improvements need to be made to the high school’s science labs and the building’s heating and cooling system. As a result, Kelly said, the district might need to levy additional dollars to cover those costs. Health and safety levies do not require voter approval.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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