For the first time in almost a year, the Cannon Falls School District has created a voter approved referendum. As of this past year, the previous referendum expired, leaving CFHS without a referendum. Now,  a new referendum  has been passed, with its effects being instituted this coming fal l. Over the next ten years, the district will be paid five hundred dollars per student by the state, which does mean that there will be a tax increase. The increase is based on the value of each house that is within the district, and each house will be taxed differently according to its value. The new household tax was a point that realtor and school board member Robert Siebenaler said he could bring up to future client, as the effects are in place for the next ten years. Financially speaking, this new referendum impacts everyone, helping the school district balance the budget that was drastically influenced by last year’s larger-than-average senior class.

Siebenaler felt that not only was the new referendum beneficial, but also a necessity.

Says Siebenaler, “Our auditors say that out of all the districts they audit, we have the least amount of money and do the most with it.” The CFHS school district is facing a large financial blow following the large drop off in class size between last year and this year’s senior classes. Because the school makes money based on enrollment, once last year’s seniors graduated, the funds that came with them also dissipated. If the referendum had not been passed, not only would the school’s funding be drying as quickly as water in the Sahara, but potential cuts come into play as well–that is, the school administration would look at what programs can be cut in order to reach a certain dollar amount. A number of programs have appeared on the chopping block before, from extracurricular bands and teachers to activities such as debate. The actual cuts would have been made several months from now, around March and April, but because the referendum passed, the cuts to programs will be lighter, perhaps even nonexistent. The actual funds from the referendum go into effect starting with the dawn of the next school year