Galesville‑Ettrick‑Trempealeau board votes to put $44.76 million capital referendum on Aug. 11 ballot

The Galesville‑Ettrick‑Trempealeau School District board voted to place a $44,755,000 capital improvement referendum on the Aug. 11 ballot, district staff said, to fund projects at the high school and three elementary buildings.

District staff presented the projected tax impact before the motion. "With a $44,755,000 referendum, the mill rate tax impact would be 96¢. That equates to a property that's valued at $350,000. The annual property tax increase would be $336," said a staff member during the meeting.

Board members said the vote tonight is intended to authorize the referendum so the district can begin marketing and community outreach. "This vote is really to say start moving so we can start working on marketing plans and commit... getting that whole grassroots effort going to get a yes vote on these projects," a board member said while explaining the timing.

A board member moved to place the referendum on the August 11 ballot; the motion was seconded and the board took a roll‑call vote. The vote was recorded in the meeting as Yes: George; Leakey; Levitt; Nelson; Funk; Schaefer; Ressler. No: Coop; Sarah. The chair announced the motion carried (recorded as 7–2).

Why it matters: If voters approve the referendum, the district would move forward with capital improvements the board described as necessary to accommodate projected enrollment growth and classroom capacity at the middle and elementary schools. District officials said approving placement on the ballot allows staff to begin outreach and planning.

Next steps: The board scheduled formal resolutions for April to finalize language and move the district into the referendum campaign phase. The district will publish the formal referendum language and timelines before the August vote.