Tomorrow River superintendent seeks $900,000, three-year referendum to cover projected shortfall

Ryan Ruggles, superintendent of the Tomorrow River School District, asked residents to approve a $900,000 non-recurring operating referendum for three years to address a projected $850,000 budget shortfall tied to an expiring $400,000 referendum and state funding that he said has not kept pace with inflation.

Ruggles framed the referendum as a temporary measure to allow the district time to find efficiencies and review fees and positions while the state funding formula is reconsidered. He said the district has used operational referendums since 2001 and emphasized fiscal responsibility, asserting Tomorrow River is among the lowest per-student spenders in its conference while posting high academic outcomes.

Why it matters: Ruggles said the referendum would restore predictability to local tax rates and preserve programs. He estimated the district mill rate would move to about 8.33 and that a homeowner with a $300,000 property would pay roughly an additional $213 a year if the referendum is approved.

Ruggles outlined drivers of the shortfall: a slight decline in district enrollment (which reduces state aid tied to student counts), low statutory revenue limits, and statewide funding that he said has lagged inflation—he quantified the shortfall as about $2,300 per student if funding had kept pace. He also noted increased open enrollment into the district has helped sustain class sizes and opportunities.

He clarified that a separate capital referendum for the Falcon STEAM building is unrelated to this operational ask, which is intended to support day-to-day programming and staffing rather than brick-and-mortar work.

If voters reject the referendum, Ruggles warned the district would likely need to reduce staffing and curtail student opportunities, pointing to possible cuts in electives, athletics, extracurriculars, technology and some safety and curriculum needs; he said those reductions could hinder staff retention and the district’s ability to remain a ‘‘destination’’ district.

Ruggles closed by urging community members to ask questions and contact district leaders with concerns ahead of the April 2 vote.