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The district operates 20 school facilities and maintains more than two million square feet of buildings. The average age of the buildings is 63 years, and they will require 鈥渟ignificant investment,鈥� according to a statement released Thursday by Patrick Gasper, the district鈥檚 public information officer

A major challenge 鈥渋s the lack of predictable, sustainable funding. State aid has not kept up with increasing costs,鈥� Gasper wrote.

The district is considering asking voters to renew the 2020 operational referendum at the same rate, $14.5 million each year, for two years. The funds would be used to maintain programs, services and class sizes and pay for transportation, utilities, compensation, insurance, curriculum, technology and special education services.

鈥淏ecause the SDJ has diligently paid down debt, renewing the operational referendum at $14.5 million would not increase the SDJ portion of the current property tax rate,鈥� Gasper wrote.

The district has an estimated $578 million in basic capital maintenance needs, including needed improvements to electrical systems, plumbing, mechanical equipment, roofs and windows. However, Gasper wrote, the district realizes addressing all these needs at once is unrealistic and they should be addressed in phases. The district has addressed $136.7 million in immediate capital maintenance needs.

Two additional projects have been prioritized: renovating special education classrooms for $19 million and enhancing safety and security for $13.8 million.

Survey respondents will be asked for their input on three 鈥渃ore needs,鈥� which make up a possible facilities base plan that is expected to cost about $169.5 million.

Those 鈥渃ore needs鈥� are 鈥渉igh-priority capital maintenance,鈥� at an estimated cost of $136.7 million, special education renovations at an estimated cost $19 million, and safety and security enhancements at an estimated cost of $13.8 million.

The base plan would increase the debt service portion of the district鈥檚 tax rate by $204 annually, per $200,000 of property value.

The district is also seeking feedback on additional facilities investments, including renovations to the career and technical education classrooms at Parker and Craig high schools, expected to cost $32 million, possible renovations on classrooms at each of the elementary schools, expected to cost $36 million, and either renovation of the city-owned Monterey Park or investing in school site-based athletic facilities at Parker and Craig for an expected $23 million.

鈥淥ur board and administration have thought long and hard about the facilities and operational needs facing the district,鈥� Superintendent Mark Holzman said in the statement. 鈥淲e have invested significant time in identifying our highest priority needs. We must have community input which we will be gathering through this survey. Resident input will help guide our next steps.鈥�

Households will receive a unique code that can only be used once that must be entered to complete and submit the survey, if completing it online. For additional surveys, contact the district office at 608-743-5000 or info@janesville.k12.wi.us.