Fund 80 finances still being debated

CLINTONVILLE – While Clintonville Superintendent Troy Kuhn told the Clintonville School Board at its Oct. 12 meeting that the district has achieved most of the short-term goals the board had set for the district’s Fund 80 – Community Service account, board members expressed concern about the finances of Fund 80 not moving toward ‘cost neutral.’

The discussion took place at the board’s Oct. 12 meeting.

During the discussion, Board Vice President Kris Strauman said the district may have to ask the district’s residents if it wants the Rec Center and Dellwood Childcare Center, which are funded through Fund 80.

“We’ve spent so many hours discussing this,” Strauman said.

Board member Christopher Hoffmann asked if the district would shut down the Rec Center if the community said it didn’t want it anymore.

Clintonville Superintendent Troy Kuhn told the board that the Antigo School District recently shut down its rec center. 

Board member Jason Moder reminded the board that prior to the recently passed operational referendum, the board at that time, with six of those board members still on the board, had agreed to work towards a financial neutral situation regarding Fund 80. The newly elected board member in April had also stated prior to the election that they were in favor of being financial neutral regarding Fund 80.

“I can say that with confidence that seven people in here have said we want to work toward cost neutral for all of this,” Moder said. “And it’s not happening.”

Kuhn said that Fund 80 is a community service fund, and that is why he is having discussions with representatives from the city of Clintonville to see what the city’s community service fund is doing for the community. In additions, he is sharing what the district’s community service fund is doing for the city.

“I think we need to figure that out together,” Kuhn said.

As an example, Kuhn said the city uses the majority of the district’s facilities to operate its adult programs.

Board member Mark Zachow asked if the city pays the district to use district facilities.

Kuhn said the city does not pay the district to use district facilities.

“Well, that’s not right,” Zachow said.

Moder said he agreed with Zachow.

“That’s what I inherited, that’s the way it’s been,” Kuhn said.

If all the taxpayers don’t want to pay for some things in Fund 80, things need to be done to bring costs to a neutral cost level, Moder said. 

He added, “Which was the whole point of what we talked about. So, the burden of the deficits within these shouldn’t fall on people that don’t want that or are not using it.”

Kuhn told the board that the district’s Finance Committee would discuss Fund 80 and bring back multiple options and recommendations for the board to review and vote on.