The bond issue is one of three referendum questions to be decided by Racine Unified School District voters. Here’s a recap:

• $83.5 million—to replace five elementary school buildings (Wind Point and Olympia Brown in Caledonia; Knapp, Roosevelt and Stephen Bull Fine Arts in Racine) and remodel five other elementary schools (North Park in Caledonia, Schulte in Sturtevant, West Ridge in Mount Pleasant and Jerstad-Agerholm and Mitchell in Racine.) The general obligation bonds would be repaid over 20 years.
•  $35 million—in total additional spending beginning in 2011-12 and running through 2017-18. Voters would likely be asked to re-approve the spending at the end the seven years, says David Hazen RUSD chief financial officer. He said the sunset provision was included in response to concerns raised by the Racine Taxpayers Association and the Board of Education. “We were asked to show (student achievement) results down the road. This gives us the opportunity to do that,” he said.
• $10 million—in total additional spending starting in 2011-12 and running through 2020-21. This spending adds $1 million per year annually to the RUSD general fund balance and would renew a referendum question that voters approved 10 years ago. The higher fund balance would continue to contribute to a favorable bond rating for the district, Hazen says.
•  Grand total:  $128.5 million.  District officials estimate that the three referendum questions, if approved, would add $1.14 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to local property tax bills.