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Oregon Observer The
Oregon Ice Rink 100 N. Perry Parkway Oregon, WI 53575
Thursday, October 25, 2018 • Vol. 134, No. 17 • Oregon, WI • ConnectOregonWI.com • $1.25
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Oregon School District
Village of Oregon
Budget plan: $106 hike, added staff
‘At the critical stage’ SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
If the Nov. 6 referendums to build a new elementary school in the fast-growing northern part of the Oregon School District fail, it won’t be long before the district asks once again. Facing an expected surge of students into the district in the next decade, there is really no other option, district superintendent Brian Busler told the Observer last week, saying in terms of increasing population, the district is “clearly at the critical stage.” “Because of the overcrowding that currently exists in our schools, by 2020 we will be overcrowded at all the elementary schools as well as Rome Corners,” he said. “They’re simply out of classroom space, and we need to do something to address that
2018
Inside Youth Center construction begins ... 2 Hotel nears completion ..... 3 Jefferson Crossing opens downtown ... 4 Perry Parkway connects ..... 5 School district prepares for referendum ... 6 New business questionnaires ... 7
Unified Newspaper Group
OSD referendum The Observer is examining the upcoming referendum from a variety of angles: Oct. 4: Referendum seeks to build new K-6 school Oct. 11: Why is a new school needed in Fitchburg? Oct. 18: What would it provide; changes to the district This week: What would happen if it fails? Nov. 1: What is on the ballot lack of classroom space for the kids.” Without funds to open a new K-6 elementary school in Fitchburg for the 202021 school year the district would be forced to plan for a new referendum in the long term (probably 2020),
Turn to Referendum/Page 7
Inside
Oregon Focus
ALEXANDER CRAMER
Oregon Focus highlights progress in the village over the past year
Photo by Scott Girard
Ethan Garvoille, 3, center, of Oregon watches the bean bag he tossed fly toward the cornhole board with his sister, Lydia, 4, left, and mom looking on. Both Garvoille children received candy for their throws in the game.
Inside More Triple Treat photos Page 12
Triple the treats Hundreds of families attended the Hillcrest Bible Church Triple Treat Festival Sunday, Oct. 21, at Oregon High School. The annual event features carnival games, crafts, food, photo booths and – perhaps most importantly – plenty of candy. The event encourages kids and families to dress up in their Halloween costumes to take part, and included a costume contest at the end.
Taxes would go up about $106 on an average home if the Village Board adopts the preliminary 2019 budget after a Nov. 12 public hearing. That budget includes money that will pay a full year’s salary to the police officer hired earlier this year, a 2.5 percent cost-ofliving adjustment for nonunion staff and money for the village’s first full-time planner. Those costs, plus increased debt service to ready the village for large borrowing projects to come, would lead to an increase that’s significantly more than what village administrator Mike Gracz has tried to keep tax increases to in years past. In 2017, taxes went up about $76 from 2016. B u t ke e p i n g t h e m a t that level was “going to be tough” this year, Gracz said, both because of what’s needed this year and what’s
Turn to Budget/Page 7
Inside Village budget publication Page 14
OCRN agrees to assist 3 new community projects Housing coalition, library fundraising and Jaycee Park upgrade are next up
funds for a new food pantry and youth center in Oregon since it was initially established in 2015. Now the nonprofit organization has announced plans to assist three other projects in the village — all at the BILL LIVICK same time. OCRN will help the Oregon HousUnified Newspaper Group ing Coalition in its efforts to eduThe Oregon Community Resource cate the community and advocate Network has successfully raised for more housing options in Oregon,
especially affordable, workforce housing. The resource network will also help with fundraising for a new public library after a feasibility study is completed, and it will assist with fundraising, event planning and act as a “neutral facilitator” among various user groups for improvements
Turn to OCRN/Page 16
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District: 4 of 6 schools overcrowded by 2020 if referendum fails
Debt increases, planning for more overshadows growth