More about the Write-In Candidates and WHY
"First and foremost, going forward we as a community need to realize that when this is all done and over with, however this goes, we are still a community, we are friends and neighbors." -Clayton Hall
Voting No to the referendum does not mean you do not care about the kids, teachers, or the community. Voting No allows for a plan of flexibility instead of being locked on a 22 year plan. Dan and Clayton would like to help the school board come up with options for the community and for those plans to be transparent to everyone.
Raising the taxes too high could have the negitive effect and hinder familes to come out to this community.
"There is another way. We believe we aren't just out there to keep the cost down, we aren't afraid to spend the money, we want to do it responsibly"
Dan and Clayton have their contact information out so please reach out to them with any questions.
Dan Siegmann
I am Dan Siegmann. For the benefit of those who do not know me and are questioning my intentions, be assured that I want what is best for all children always. My wife and I have nine children and have done everything possible to love, instruct, and guide them all to become assets in the communities in which they choose to live, loving God and family while aspiring to true leadership that looks out for others. I will defend the freedom we all enjoy which gives us the opportunity to make the decisions we deem best for our own families. I do not cast judgment on others who may choose differently than I do. I will not revert to name-calling in an attempt to crush opposition for two reasons—it shuts down conversation and it is something I never want my children to do.
I previously held the position of President on the Saylesville School Board around 30 years ago. In 1994 I purchased a farm in the Neosho School District and had no extra time run for any political positions. I have now entered the race for a position on the HNR school board only after I had all my questions answered concerning the 23 million dollar referendum coming up for a vote in April and after I personally toured both school buildings. I asked for and was shown the worst of both buildings. The Neosho school has been neglected to be sure but it is not too far gone. Both buildings are solid. I have done two videos about these buildings to inform those who want to know more details. Please watch them. They are posted both on utube and FB under Free in Dodge. After seeing both buildings I do not believe it will cost 24 million dollars to maintain them over the next twenty years.
We have been told that we must choose between updating two school buildings to make them like new or update and add on to one school building to make it like new. We really should not be surprised the costs are similar. But let’s not forget that ‘a new school building does not an achieving student make’. The high quality education which all of us want for all children requires good teachers who care and parents who are involved in their children’s education who also care. I do not personally know our teachers but have heard they are tops and they do care. I have seen parents involved with their children’s education and know they care.
I am standing for balance in this situation. I understand we are going to have to spend some money somewhere. We cannot continue to ignore reasonable maintenance for our schools. I am personally formulating ideas to do so. I have what I believe is a solution for the problem of water pooling next to one of the outside walls of Neosho school already.
True balance also includes looking out for fiscal responsibility in relation to the taxpayers. The Facility Assessment Study revealed that of the 1300 households in the Herman/Rubicon/Neosho area approximately 25% or so have children in the HNR schools. To also be representing the households which do not is a part of balance, of which 10% or so are retired folks on fixed incomes in our present uncertain inflationary economy. Where is their voice on the current school board?
We are neighbors in a small community. Clayton and I hold no animosity toward any current school board member. We must keep talking and keep searching for what is best for all the members of our community. You can be confident that a vote for write-in candidates Clayton Hall and Dan Siegmann for the HNR School District Board of Education will begin to make this happen.
Mill Rate Information
Honor School Mill Rate: how property taxes are calculated
Take a look at your most recent tax bill and find the line that shows the tax you pay to
the HNR School District. If the proposed 23 million dollar school referendum borrowing
becomes reality this line on your tax bill will nearly double and will not go down for 22
years. By the time this 23 million dollars is paid off with interest it will have cost us
nearly 38 million dollars. As is typical, those who are promoting this are using the mill
rate to support the supposed affordability of this borrowing, using it as a way to picture
what they want us to believe is an acceptable level of tax even though the mill rate
means nothing of the sort.
WHAT IS A MILL RATE?
MILL means “thousand”. The mill rate is the rate charged for every $1,000 of real estate
value. It is a small “dollar and cents” number determined every year and is ALWAYS
used in connection with the value of real estate AT THAT TIME.
The HNR School Board determined how much money it needed to operate the schools
in 2024 and assigned a rate to be charged for every $1,000 of value of the real estate
within the whole district that, when added up, would equal the amount needed for
operations. The total amount to be collected as a tax to fund operations becomes the
district’s TAX LEVY and the rate applied to every $1,000 of property value is called the
MILL RATE. This mill rate is then applied to every $1,000 of value of your real estate to
determine the portion you will pay toward the tax levy. As you can see, the mill rate was
not used to determine the tax levy. The tax levy was used to determine the mill rate
based upon property values.
Historically, when property values go up the mill rate will go down. When property
values go down the mill rate will go up. The mill rate changes every year in relation to
the value of real estate primarily, and, secondarily, by the amount of the tax levy needed
to balance the district’s budget. If the HNR school board needs additional revenue for a
one time expense they can raise the mill rate to increase the amount they receive for
every $1,000 of your real estate value.
In our present situation, the school board has determined how much money it needs to
operate the schools for 2024. They have now also determined how much money would
be needed every year to make the payment for the 23 million dollars they want us to
borrow. An ADDITIONAL mill rate of nearly 3 dollars for every $1,000 of the real
estate you own would be levied against you for the referendum borrowing alone. This would nearly double the present amount you will pay to the HNR school district this
year.
Here is something additional to consider. Our mill rate is low this year because the
value of real estate is quite inflated. Our low mill rate of 2024 is coupled with the
highest real estate values of the past 7 years. The government does not need to take as
much per $1,000 of real estate value because there are a lot more $1,000 values to take
from, which translates into a lower mill rate.
The board has argued that even if we add the additional 3 dollar referendum mill rate to
the actual 2024 mill rate we still come in with a lower mill rate than we had in 2018.
That should make us feel good. That also makes the borrowing affordable, right?
Wrong!
Mill rates must always remain connected with THAT YEAR’S real estate values.
The high mill rate of 2018 was $6.92. A $200,000 home would generate a tax of $1,384.
200 [thousands] (value of home) x $6.92 (mill rate) = $1,384.00 (tax)
Now we move to 2024, adding the referendum mill rate of $2.98 to our present mill rate
of $3.78 for a total of a $6.76 mill rate, as presented by the school board. That $6.76 mill
rate would generate $1,352 of tax revenue from a $200,000 home. Great, taxes would go
down by $32 from 2018 making the borrowing look affordable. Or would they?
Remember, mill rates must be connected to the value of real estate at the time the mill
rate is established. It so happens that the home that was worth $200,000 in 2018 is now
valued at $300,000 in 2024. (6 Year Equalized Valuation Trend, HNR Master Facilities
Project and Referendum Informational Report, p. 17)
The same home that was taxed $1,384 in 2018 would now be taxed $2,028 in 2024
because it is worth 50% more. When the referendum mill rate is included, taxes actually
would increase by $650 even though the mill rate was still 17¢ less. In this case a lower
mill rate still increased the taxes.
If our present real estate values begin to fall our annual mill rate will rise. Moreover, the
mill rate example which our school board has used to convince you that this referendum
borrowing is affordable will then be seen for the deception that it is. I urge you to vote
no on this referendum so we all do not get caught in a place of high taxation with no
way out.
-Dan Siegmann
Keep up with information!
Keep checking back for updated vidoes and information!
Please remember and pass on that when you go to vote you can ASK the poll workers if there are any write in candidates for School Board and they will give you Dan Siegmann and Clayton Hall's names. Or take a picture on your phone to remember how to spell their names.
Information
Child Care
Fixes that are not happening
Fixes that are not happening
Running a child care unit inside the school should be a considered a seperate business. However there are absolutely no answers when asked about who would staff it, when would it be open, who and how many would be allowed to use it. The School Board had stated that adding a child care unit to the school would decrease the amount of open enrollment out, however no one has an actual number of how many. They also don't tell us is how many families exactly would stay at the school for this reason. They are very set on this being "needed" but have absolutly no business plan to run it. This could potentionally cost the school more money to run this. They have already had issues staffing the after and before care program and have actually voted on allowing high school students who want to be teachers fill the aftercare spots and be considered as an intern or apprenticeship.
Fixes that are not happening
Fixes that are not happening
Fixes that are not happening
There is specifically a large water leak into a classroom. This issue has been going on for over a year and has not been fixed. There is plenty of money that is supposed to be used for maintenance however they are not fixing things. By not fixing these or this issue they save the money that is for maintenance and the buildings. The buildings then appear worse and the referendum appears to be needed. This is NOT benificial to any students learning enviroment or for teachers trying to deal with this either. Board member must be held accountable. We need change on the board to save our schools.
Donate
Committee Members
Committee Members
If you want to donate to the Save Our Schools Committee please reach out to our email at honorschoolreferendum@gmail.com
You can also go to Horicon State Bank and ask to give a donation to the account set up with all three committee members attached. There is a seperate bank account used only for this committee. Checks can be made out to any of the Committee members which then will deposited right into the account.
All funds will be used to pay for signs, flyers, mailers, pamphlets, banners, and other items purchased. No committee members will be receiving pay above what they have spent out of pocket.
Committee Members
Committee Members
Committee Members
The Save Our Schools Committee was formed by concerned community members from Neosho, Rubicon, and Herman. Several are former school board members from the area. They have an understanding of how the schools work and the history of them. All committee members cherish local schools and the benefit it gives to the communities.
President: Suzanne Derge
Vice President: Heather Oldenhoff
Treasurer: Stacy Kelsey
About Save Our Schools Committee
Our History
What should be expected by the School Board Members
Our Faculties
Local schools are important to keep that is why there was a consolidation in the first place. It holds communittees together. Losing another school in our area would be catastrophic. We are fighting for out school to stay local in the heart of our community.
Our Faculties
What should be expected by the School Board Members
Our Faculties
Look at the video Dan Siegmann made about both buildings and their current status. These buildings are not beyond repair. There will always be maintenance on buildings so building a new building will not stop any maintenance costs.
What should be expected by the School Board Members
What should be expected by the School Board Members
What should be expected by the School Board Members
School Board Members are voted in to represent the community. Both Dan Siegmann and Clayton Hall believe the more transparent and accountable the board is with the community the better they can all work together to make sure education is the priority