FANFORFUN10--You are correct on your issues you bring up, sorry to say that MAX is in left field to try to make you vote yes as well as anyone on this board, he is one of them as well as a plant, he or she is on here to discourage any kind of negativity that will cause the vote to go to NO! kinda of like a person at a auction to drive up bidding. He is really knowledgable about the school district issues and funds and he is not a teacher or wife of one or a board member, as a former educator I know these things and I have seen this many times in my life. Don't be smoozed by this bug who wants your vote as well as your money.

MAX - I agree early learning is the most important. But it can be done. Daycares are doing it daily at lower cost. Now I know the kids aren't getting the education they are getting in the schools. But I'm just saying it can be managed.

I believe the reason is Brodhead has less jobs available locally then some of the other school districts you referred to. That is just IMO.

Freebird, I wish I did work for the district, just so you could have finally said something that was true. But alas, your lies continue.

VOTE NO AND WRITE IN THE CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT IS TIME TO TAKE BACK YOUR SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Max-- get back to work and stay off the web, that is not allowed while working for the DISTRICT as for me I am retired I have all the time in the world.

I know I can't win with either of you, and with freebird I could really care less, FOF at least makes logical arguments. However, comparison to other districts isn't always bad, the one comparison that surprises me the most is that of the other districts that have gone to referendum to exceed spending caps in our area, only one besides us has failed out of nine (that one was NG for 750K for 5 years). There was a graph on this in the gazette less than a week ago. Why are we the ones not supporting our district? (Rhetorical question, I don't need anymore bashing about how awful everyone running the school is). It is just disheartening.
My last point on class sizes, I don't disagree that 25-30 CAN be done in the higher grades (although not ideal, but in these times what is?), what bothers me most is that with a failed referendum we will have those kind of numbers with kids 8 and under, which are the ages that will get affected the most from higher class sizes. The basic foundations of your learning for the rest of your life are developed at this age, getting behind then or getting lost in the shuffle spells a lifetime of catching up...

MAX - They have made cuts in the past, I will give you that. But obviously they must cut more to live within their budget.

Class size research goes both ways. I agree one on one teaching would be great. But that isn't realistic. I think 25 to 30 students per class isn't out of the question and can be done.

And just for future discussions, comparing Brodhead to other schools is a bad idea. ALL schools will be or are feeling this crunch. The problem locally, is there isn't much left industrial wise to support taxes being raised. We can't try "keeping up with the Jones" when the Jones are Jerry Jones. Again, two wrongs don't make a right.

I have raised the question of consolidation before. Juda was approached in the past and said no. Brodhead does carry a low mil rate compared to other schools. I still think Juda, Orfordville, and Albany could benefit greatly by combining.

MAX-- what are you going to do if the vote is NO? you might lose your golfing partner (DEERY) during the day while school is going on!
you also might need not to move here because of the failing referundum, I can see that the people of Brodhead from this post doesn't want your cheerleading attitude to a corrupt organization that has been going on for years,
you need to get smarter and quit being manipulated that his how hitler came in power, read your history and learn because you sure lack thinking for yourself! How sad!! you must have a boring life doing what people tell you what to do!!!!

It is a deal on all accounts, but I do wish you'd look into the class size issue a little further. Doing a simple google search will provide you with many articles about class size especially at the elementary level...
Maybe you will agree with me that the district has already been making cuts to staff? Plenty of evidence that they have been, and have been doing a responsible job of it.
I have a bad feeling that the majority of the community feels like you, so I'll take it on my chin with the vote more than likely. I just hope everyone who does feel that way truly understands what we are losing, before they do vote no.

Has anyone looked into going together with other schools and combining the super intendent job. If this can be done in other areas why can it not be done here. I think 160,000 is way to much to be paying for one employe in a town this size.

Max - I agree to disagree on the teachers vs students ratio. You think smaller is better, I think a little bigger is better. Deal ??

Max - But to say PRIDE did nothing illegal is a little to early to call. They are assuming from the legal advice that they were give that it is legal. I, on the other hand, have been advised it was illegal for them to release that information. Again, we differ. I agree to disagree until the court makes its decision. Deal ?

You say vote yes, I say vote NO. Amazingly, we disagree again. I'm starting to think you're my ex-wife....lol

darwin1, That is the way this referendum was presented to us since day one. You will only know what the President wants you to know....

So, why isn't there an actual accounting sheet showing exactly what is spent on what? The article was so vague as to be meaningless. More details please.

For the best intrest in the school district, please write-in Allen Schneider and Paul Donovan...

Ha, what a joke. I give up if you think that nails it on the head.
One update though, the list that PRIDE used is available to the public from the district. However, most people don't realize this, and if they want to be listed as confidential they need to call the district to tell them. Further, although it was legal, after the initial negative response PRIDE stopped using this list and switched to lists that it purchased from City/Township voting records and then looked up names and numbers in the phone book. PRIDE did nothing illegal.

freebird007 has hit the nail on the head!!! The comment and last paragraph he made on March 24 @7:35am is what the people have been trying to tell the board!

haha, and yet another lie written by Freebird

your right max the cardinal, your married to a administrator, my bad!

Speaking of lying, I just remembered, Freebird was the one who stated I was an administrator. HAHA, now there is a lie. So aren't you the pot calling the kettle black? (Even though the kettle isn't lying)

If you don't believe the numbers, go walk through the school and do a count yourself. Why would the district lie about this? Don't forget the board and administration won't be affected by this, the students will. They have no incentive to lie about any of this. Go ahead and vote out these two board members if you want, but voting NO doesn't make any sense. This is not a SCAM, this is an attempt to keep our quality district (supported by the good people of Brodhead) a quality district. If your only argument is that the district is lying about the numbers, you really have no argument at all.

MAX- I looked at the documents on the website and I have to say they are just numbers that have not been certified by any one. anyone can put numbers on a page (especially the lying administration and school board) and post to show they need help. This is a joke and the reason I am involved is that this is a SCAM to the good people in Brodhead. I think the write ins will win the vote for the school board and then there will be some changes.
VOTE NO---VOTE NO----VOTE NO------------------

VOTE NO, VOTE NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fanoffun-
Losing 25 students per year doesn't necessarily reduce the number of staff needed. The problem with losing 25 students per year, is that they are all lost over a combined 13 years of education. Losing a few in each grade, doesn't allow you to cut a teacher. Granted the majority lost would be from a graduating class leaving, and fewer coming in, but reductions in the elementary to account for this have already been made.
A reduction in the number of teachers has already been in place over last few years. Look at the Brodhead referendum site, and click on the link for Elementary Staffing. (Granted this is only in the elementary school, but it provides the best example) In 2004, we had 24 elementary teachers, and no 4-K program. We currently have 23 elementary teachers, but have a 4-k program (adding 2 teachers). So in the last 6 years we have already reduced 3 sections in the elementary school. With another reduction coming from a failed referendum, that will be 4 less teachers in grades 1-4, in the last 7 years. The district is accounting for the loss in student population. If you look at another link of the elementary enrollment, you will see that class sizes in a few grades will be extremely high (especially for elementary school) with the loss of another teacher. The current Kindergarten has 79 students going in to 1st grade with only 3 teachers. Move one of the 5th grade teachers down to first, it is back to around 20 which is acceptable. Looking further though, the 2nd grade also has 79 students going into 3rd grade with only three teachers. The problem now becomes apparent because there is not a teacher to move (because of the cuts that have been made) and we now have 3rd grade class sizes of 26-27 students.
My point being, the district has been making cuts to staff, and we have reached the point where no more cuts can be made without affecting education.
As for the admin/pupil ratio, there is also a document on that. Brodhead is currently very comparable to other Rock Valley conference schools in this category. A few things not highlighted by this graph is that one of our administration is not full time (Pupil services) which sort of skews the numbers a little. Second, the board has committed to reducing an administrator when the contract runs out, which would make our admin/pupil ratio move up to around 140, which is squarely where it needs to be.
I think if you looked at the documents the district provided on the school website about the referendum, you will notice that the school has been properly making staff decisions based on student enrollment and in my opinion, there is no more room left to cut.

MAX - Because if an attorney / judge finds that PRIDE did do wrong, they would fall into the same mindset of "We didn't do anything wrong" as Charles Manson.

In a claim such as this, legal fees are paid by the loser in the case. But I agree, attorney fees are out of control.

On Mr.Deery's webpage he claims that Brodhead schools are losing approx. 25 kids per year. His numbers, not mine. My question is, how many years has this been happening ? Where is the breakdown year to year showing the reduction in student enrollment ?

If there has been a consistent reduction in students, why hasn't there been a consistent reduction of staff or Administration ? Too many Chiefs (staff and Admin) and not enough Indians (students) in this tribe.

So MAX, if there has been reductions in student population as stated by Mr. Deery, there should be no suffering by the students. Because releasing employees would bring it back into a proper ratio.

I don't really get your point... Charles Manson really did do wrong, and he thought he didn't because he was crazy. PRIDE really hasn't done anything wrong, and they probably think they haven't either, because that is true. Where's the connection?
I hope the attorney is a family friend, because the hourly fees they charge for this type of issue, is a bit silly IMO.
Lastly, I still don't understand how it won't have an impact on kids. I guess we just aren't going to see eye to eye on that.

MaxtheCardinalv- If you asked Charles Manson if he did any wrong, he'd say no. Ha Ha I AM NOT SAYING THEY ARE LIKE HIM, but you get my point. From what I heard (rumor) someone has contacted an attorney to look into it.

Still disagree with you that it is going to impact the kids.

Freebird
Talk to someone on PRIDE or with the district. They have followed all the appropriate steps to run an active political campaign.
Go back and read my previous posts, not an employee with the district, I'm just supporting the school district. Why don't you keep your nose where it belongs to the problems in Janesville before you give us all your 'answers'.
And since you say this whole thing is about keeping jobs and not the kids, if you would put two and two together, keeping those jobs benefits the kids, do you not see that? How is six less teachers not going to affect the kids?

MAX MAX MAX--- Giving out numbers from the school is ILLEGAL. The numbers were giving to them for emergency issues only, Learn the law, Your school district can be sued by violating the no call law as well as violating there privacy, some people have unlisted phone numbers and they passed them out. Who is to say that one of these PRIDE people does not own a business and uses this as a mailing list or sells it. Some people have unlisted numbers for a variety of reasons and one might be to protect them from someone else. It amazes me that this super has instructed people to get votes to protect his staff before he has to cut, I hope the people of Brodhead see thru this and realize what kind of leader they have there. A good leader and smart one would never allow the phone numbers of parents to be released to a group that probually doesn't have a state license to actually do this, I wonder if anyone has investigated this organization to see if they have the correct documents, there is a process to do to be able to solicite calls to people. I am also concerned on why they are asking on how you will vote, are they targeting people who will vote no? Maybe! are they going to give you a tax break for voting yes? NOT!
Wake up Brodhead this whole thing is about keeping jobs and has NOTHING to do about the kids, shame on you MAX and the school district to come on here and preach that it is for the kids when in reality it comes down to the almighty dollar. Cut the pay to all, including administration by 10% to 15%, pay 20% torwards insurance and develope a 401k plan that they can participate it and reduce the pension to 50% payment and no one loses there job as well as no referedum. But, that will not happen because the super and his team are greedy! OH Max, the unemployment in Brodhead is actually over 30% but you would not know that because you work for the district.

I'm afraid I must agree, the school board is not the reason the taxes are so high, the city council is. It's time to make some changes in this town. Down size the police dept., the fire dept. and any other place where there is so much waste. I'm sorry Mr. Mayor but I think you are out of touch with the average citizen in this town. Stop spending our money like we all have as much a you do.

FanofFun-
Likewise, I continue to respectfully disagree. It may not affect the high school students as they are closer to the college experience, but I think it will have a drastic effect in the elementary school, for whichever grade needs to have 25+ students. I'm not intending to make it seem like a zoo, but 25 8 year old students could very easily become a zoo, at no fault to the teacher. Further, students with lower confidence levels and expectations of themselves will find it easier to blend in, in not only elementary but middle and high schools too. These students benefited from lower class sizes by the teachers being able to have more time to focus on each individual student. More students equals less time per student, which will affect students. Also, your comparison to how the teachers were TAUGHT and how we TEACH 3rd graders or middle school students, doesn't hold a whole lot of weight with me. College students are obviously expected to learn in a different environment than elementary and middle school students. As a somewhat recently graduated college student, a students ability to learn and amount they learn increase with smaller class sizes. Some of the classes I got the most out of were college courses with less than 20 students. The same would be true for elementary, middle, and high school students.
I know it may not have a drastic affect on all students, but if it affects a handful of students, isn't that a handful too many? Why should any student get less of an education because of this?
Finally, I spoke with some people associated with the PRIDE group and it is legal to get the numbers. A group that wanted you to vote NO could go in to the school and they would have to give the same numbers to them. As upsetting as it may be, it is legal.

MaxtheCardinal - I respectfully disagree with you. Downsizing doesn't always effect productivity. There will be a period of adapting, but they will make it work.

Additionally, it WILL NOT be harder on the students. It WILL BE harder on the teachers. But you make 25 kids in a class sound like a zoo. 25 kids ? Really ? The same teachers that are teaching these kids were TAUGHT in college courses with more then 25 kids. So should we say they suffered and aren't educated correctly ? I am in NO WAY saying they are, I am just saying 25 kids isn't going to effect the kids.

Furthermore, MAX this school board tried misleading the tax payers with their threat to cut sports to try getting their way. That still has a bitter taste in many tax payer's mouths.

Lastly, I do not think it is legal for the school to release parent's phone numbers to support their cause. Do you think they would give me the phone numbers to call parents and try getting them to vote no ? Parent's phone numbers are not part of public record. I know some schools have a "Student Directory" that I question the legality of it being handed out to students. You want someone's number ? Ask them for it and if they give it to you, than so be it.

btowngirl - I agree the City built a lot of things it didn't necessarily need and could have went without. The full-time Fire Chief, I completely agree they could do without.

Yea... no one is going to build a walgreens in Brodhead. If you truly believe they are, you should head to the Monroe walgreens to pick up some anti-delusional meds.

Freebird -
So since you 'heard' it was going to be a NO vote we should all just stop caring? NO, I am going to keep trying to sway people.
I don't have any connection to PRIDE or the school board but from what I heard people aren't happy about getting called. PRIDE apparently followed the letter of the law, and what they and the district did was OK, doesn't make it right, and frankly I don't agree with it.
What I don't understand is why people would WANT cuts, as you say. Why cut things that are going to affect the students? That doesn't make sense to me. I understand if you flat out can't afford the slight increase in your taxes, but that is basically the only reason I could justify someone voting NO. I don't get voicing your grudge against the administration and school board by voting NO. There will be two other votes where you can do that, elect new school board members if you don't agree with them, but don't vote NO to this referendum, you aren't proving a point to the school board. They have cut and cut and cut over the last six years and have already committed to cutting more in the future. To me it just doesn't make sense, aside from financial reasons, to vote this down. The financial reasons are even sketchy. If you set aside $10 a month for the next three years you would have more than enough to cover the cost of the tax increase. I just hope people don't vote no, because of their grudge with the administration or school board, that isn't what this referendum is about.

fanoffun, I agree completely.

Several years ago it was seriously being looked at to build a community center on the lumberyard block. It would have included the senior center, the city hall, the police, and the fire depts. That too was voted down as it was too much money. Now we have just what was predicted then. A new or remodeled building for each dept plus a new library to boot,and a full time fire chief. Now instead of maintenance on one building we have five separate buildings, with 5 separate lots to maintain and taxes to go along with. Now next year we can add on the new library tax and the increase for Pleasantview, and a water runoff surcharge tacked onto my water bil.

Maxthecardinal-- get over the chearleading for the new referendum. It is going to be a NO vote as I heard, everyone is tired of it and they want cuts. Then you and your staff can look at cuts like you are supposed too!
I think Max that you need to pay attention to the school administration office (deery) that gave out phone numbers for the group (pride)to call. Major lawsuits can pop up on this for the violating of their privacy rights. Not to smart of people too give out phone numbers.

acejd93: Do you really think our Mayor is going to let a Walgreen's come to Brodhead when HE owns the only pharmacy in town?!?!

and to fanoffun10: Not all of our new buildings were built when the ecomony was good....the water & light building just opened up less than a year ago....and I know, I know....it was already in the budget...heard it before, don't really care. It was something we could have got along without right now. And what on earth does a town the size of Brodhead need a full time fire chief for?? The answer to that is...we don't, and we have no practical use for the ladder truck that we have purchased, our police dept. is too big and has way too many vehicles. The city of Brodhead has been very wasteful with our money and they don't have to ask our permission. I happen to agree with the school board president. People are tired of their taxes going up and since the school has to ask they are going to vote no just because they can. But anyone who thinks that a no vote will not affect the students of our district is just fooling themselves.

Oh, and I also find it quite embarrassing that our Mayor says that he doesn't know why our taxes are so high. Way to make us look good, Mayor Pinnow!!! As if we are not already the laughing stock of Southern Wisconsin. I travel around the Southern Wisconsin area for work and the consensus among other people are that we are a bunch of petty, jealous, cheapskate idiots for voting the referendum down the first time!!! I don't even tell people I am from Brodhead anymore!!

Fanoffun -
How are kids not going to suffer? Cutting 6 teachers including a very influential guidance counselor. Yes, the school district will make due, but at the expense of things becoming harder on the students, and having less classes to take. Class sizes going up in all 3 buildings, which means more students getting lost in the shuffle. A grade in elementary will have over 25 kids per class. These things aren't impossible to deal with, and the school will get by, but don't be naive it will affect students.

Don't people think that households are also running at "bare bones"? Yes, they have built new buildings in Brodhead, but the school also has a new building. I believe the country is being forced to all run at bare bones. People do not have the money to contribute and that is why the no vote. Obama, should be creating jobs in the United States. That is what will get America back on track at a national level, at a state level and at a local level. So many jobs that we could be doing (and are sending our U.S. workers to other countries to train other countries how to do) are being closed in America and are now being made overseas. I suppose Brodhead schools can say we pay too much to the city compared to other towns. We are all paying too much on every level. When does it stop?

kara - Evansville is made up of mainly small businesses, with very few industries to support it's tax base.

Evansville has over built it's tax base. A new school, a new fire dept, and a street dept building. There are SO many places they could trim back on their budgets. ALMOST every department under the City control could lay off two to three employees and still provide good services.

It isn't hard to see why this will not pass. Look at the taxes per 100,000. In 4 years it has gone up $482. $482 is over 4% per year increase in their taxes. How many people in Brodhead had a 4% raise in pay in those 4 years combined? Yet their taxes keep going up.

abluedevil - MY point was to change one budget at a time. You are correct the City doesn't need a referendum to raise taxes. That doesn't mean we give the school permission to spend more NOW and than fight the City Budget. One step at a time. Change what you can change NOW was my point. Two wrongs, don't make a right.

And the kids aren't going to suffer. I am getting tired of hearing that. The school MUST make due with what they have and provide a quality education. Once the budget is cut, they will find ways to become more effiecent.

The school had a chance in this article to take the high road and stick to "we are doing what we can with what we have". Instead, they acted like a bunch of kids, "Little Johnny has a new pair of pants. Why can't I?"

Yes, the CITY has built and built. But they were in the same buildings for years. The police, fire and EMS were in cramped quarters. Additionally, they built when the economy was good. They ALSO will have to cut back now that tax payers are out of work, businesses have closed, and the overall tax base has shrunk. But their budget talks aren't until the end of the year.

Evansville does the acej93. Evansville does the same thing, keeps taxes low for business's and screws the residents. I went on Rock County tax data search and was shocked at how little the business's pay. Town's need to quit kissing their butt's because at the tax rate they have they are not doing us any good.

fanoffun10
You are missing the point.
Knowlede of the date is about the extent of your contrbution.
Deery said it accurately,"They built and built and built and have done all these improvements to the city, and none of them had to be presented to the community."
How exactly do you plan to "address the City Budget?" Municipalities are not forced to referendum to make physical improvements - they raise your taxes because they can, not because you vote "Yes" to let them.
You think the Town of Beloit went to local taxpayers and got approval to build their new fire station?
Heck No.
But never mind the facts - whether the municipality or the school district is really to blame it makes sense to you to punish the students I guess.
Saying "No" to the referendum may lower your individual taxes in the short term, but you might want to consider the link between economic development and education in the long term.

It's MARCH !!!! Can anyone else confirm that ?
The School budget talks are NOW. The City budget isn't until the end of the fiscal year. One issue at a time. Lower or keep school taxes the same now, VOTE NO.

Come Sept., October, & November, we can address the City Budget. There will be plenty to lower than.

What this entire situation is really showing everyone in our area of the state is how "wonderfully run" the school board and the mayor's office is doing their jobs. TAXES, TAXES, TAXES that is all that is ever spoken. No one questions or holds accountable the poor jobs that these people have not done. $1.8 million bill to the state and all we pay is the interest. At the last meeting Olsen said her day job kept her too busy to do more for the board job. Bet you will have plenty of time when you get voted out for your arrogance. Can't wait for April 7th to see the next saga.

Right, relatively speaking they are low, but what else should we compare them to? We should compare them to other schools in our area/conference and with that comparison Brodhead's school taxes are low. You aren't going to get any disagreement with anyone that all taxes are too high. My point is, and it is a bit off topic of this article, that I am in favor of still passing this referendum because our school taxes are comparatively low, and our school board has done a good job at keeping them low. We need to pass the referendum to maintain current programs. This is a state issue and not passing the referendum is not going to solve that, it is only going to make times more difficult for our school system.
Again, no one will disagree with you that revolutionary spending reform is needed, but until that happens this local tax increase is needed to maintain what we already have. Hopefully, during the life of this referendum (3 years) that spending reform will take place at the state level, and Brodhead will have succeeded in only needing to go to referendum once, for a somewhat minimal tax increase.

Maxthecardinal - Brodhead school taxes are not low. They are lower than most area schools, however, they are low. Virtually all taxes in WI are too HIGH. Every ranking in the U.S. will tell you that. WI taxpayers have had enough. Revolutionary spending reform in schools is needed, not more taxes. There will never be enough tax increases.

Lovemycountry -
Exactly, the focus does need to be on the state level. But I think you and Panda are essentially agreeing. The blame right now shouldn't fall on the school. They have done all they could to keep their portion of our taxes low. The reason we pay so much is because of the city, and the reason the school needs more money is because of the state. This is not the school boards fault. A yes vote is a necessity to maintain current programs, without it 4 teachers will be cut completely, and 2 more will be reduced to half time, one of which is teaching Agriculture. Our community and the majority of this state is based on Ag, and cutting Ag education is not a wise decision in this community. I urge everyone to go out and vote Yes on April 6.

When most municipal employees get from 2 to 4 times the pay/benefit packages as private-sector workers do for the same kind of work its bound to have an effect on taxes....Bloated "public" school bureacracies don't help either.

pandalover25 - you took the purpose of this article hook, line and sinker. That is, distract the attention from the school to the city and call the school the "scapegoat" in order to get the referendum passed. The real reason this referendum is on the ballot is that state government reduced school shared revenue from 66% to 63% in last year's budget. State government cuts to our local communities will cause our property taxes to increase by $1B this year statewide. The real focus belongs on your state legislators. They want you to raise your local taxes to be let off the hook for big government spending at the state level. Don't fall for it.

I urge the residents of Brodhead to direct their anger at the proper source...the city. However, as someone who has lived in Brodhead my entire life, I cannot remember a city council race with more than one candidate. Or a city counsel meeting attended by more than 10 people. It must be to difficult.

Voting against a reasonable referendum request by the school is the easiest way to express political voice in a town like Brodhead, yet, it is not the most effective means and certainly the most harmful to the community. The real accountability lies with the city government. Will the citizens who are so passionately rallying against this nominal increase in the school tax be so vocal at the city counsel meeting this month? I think not. Will the people behind the effort to recall some of our board members also be running for city counsel next time around? I again think not.

Policy is formed by those who show up. The people of Brodhead simply have not shown up lately and now they want to cry foul. The members of the school board who are subject to this ridiculous recall effort are not tax-loving liberals or incompetent people out to take your money- they are reasonable citizens who have been more engaged than most in our community. They have led our boy scout troops, our church groups, and been present in every aspect of our civic life., yet, most importantly, they showed up. They showed up and no one else did. Until recently, school board meetings were attended by the school board and maybe 5-10 citizens. Lately they seem to be the place to be. Why so popular? Because it is easy. One vote (now two) is easy. Pretending to be civically engaged once every few years is easy. Blaming a school board, which boasts the lowest school tax rate in the area, for fiscal irresponsibility is easy. What is not easy is tackling the real tax issues, those of the city.

I truly hope this referendum passes. It is the right thing to do for our community. More so, I hope this whole discussion of fiscal responsibility and proper government will lead to a more engaged community at the city level. This article is a perfect demonstration of where the anger in Brodhead should be directed. Should the city counsel be subject to even half the scrutiny as people have directed at the school board I think we will develop into a more efficient, effective and more reasonably taxed city.

I know it is difficult, however, a YES vote on the school referendum is the proper thing to do. Yet, after you vote yes you will have to walk by the city clerks office while leaving city hall. Stop in and request a copy of the city budget and read it. It might not be easy but it is the correct place to direct your anger and the proper place for change.

If Mayor Pinnow wouldn't of put restrictions on 'Big Box' style businesses like Walgreens and such from building and pushing for places to use the decrepid old downtown places, there may be more possible revenue for the city!!

Why is Brodhead always in the news? This is getting really old!

"Mayor Doug Pinnow said he doesn't know why Brodhead's taxes are relatively high." Maybe it's time for a new mayor.