>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN PRODUCTION.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING "HERE AND NOW" ELECTION COVERAGE.

OUT-OF-STATERS COME IN FOR THE ELECTION AN TONY EBERS TO FORCE THE HAND FOR PFAF FALLS FLAT.

CHARLESTON FRANKLIN JOIN US FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THE SENATE AND THE MENOMINEE TRIBE IS SUING BIG SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES.

WE SPEAK TO THEIR LAWYER.

ANOTHER EM PASS OVER PFAS LEAVES COMMUNITIES WAITING AND HOW SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS USE TOOLS TO KEEP TAX RATES STABLE.

IT IS "HERE AND NOW" FOR APRIL 19TH.

FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND& FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> ENTHUSIASM FOR VOTING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS WAY DOWN FROM FOUR YEARS AGO.

THAT IS A MESSAGE FROM THE LATEST MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL OUT THIS WEEK.

FOR DETAILS WE TURN TO POLL DIRECTOR CHARLESTON FRANKLIN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> OVERALL HOW DOES DO DOES ENTHUSIASM COMPARE?

ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT VOTING.

THAT IS QUITE A DROP.

IT WAS DOWN IN OUR JANUARY POLL ALSO ABOUT 20 POINTS BELOW WHERE IT HAD BEEN FOUR YEARS AGO.

NOW ENTHUSIASM CAN CHANGE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY BAKED IN.

BUT AT THE START OF THE RACE IT SHOWS WE ARE NOT REALLY EAGER IN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FALL CAMPAIGN.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE PRESIDENTIAL MATCHUPS IN YOUR POLLING.

IT IS TRUMP 51% TO BIDEN AT 49%.

IN YOUR LAST POLL THEY WERE EVEN.

BUT YOU ALSO FOUND INDEPENDENT RFK , JR. GOT 13% AND TAKING VOTES FROM TRUMP.

WHAT IS THIS SPELLING FOR BIDEN?

POLLS NOW, THAT REPUBLICANS VOTE FOR KENNEDY ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE POINTS MORE THAN DEMOCRATS VOTE FOR KENNEDY.

SO IT IS A LITTLE MORE FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

NOW THE GREEN CANDIDATE, JILL STEIN AND INDEPENDENT CORNELL WEST TAKE MORE FROM DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS.

THIS MONTH IS A SMALL CHANGE.

TRUMP IS UP TWO IN THE HEAD-TO-HEAD, UP BY ONE POINT IN THE FIVE-WAY RACE, SO THE NET EFFECT OF ALL THIS IS SLIGHTLY IMPROVED BIDEN'S POSITION BUT IT IS A VERY SLIGHT DIFFERENCE.

ONE LAST THING, KENNEDY GETTING 13%, REMEMBER IN 2016, WHICH WAS THE RECENT HIGH WATER MARK IN WISCONSIN, ALL INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES TOGETHER ONLY GOT 5.5% OF THE VOTE.

>> SO 13% IS A BIG NUMBER.

TAKING A LOOK AT THE TAMMY BALDWIN AND HOVDE COMPARISON, AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS IS DEMOCRAT TAMMY BALDWIN, 52 TO 47 HOVDE.

HOW HAS THAT MOVED SINCE HOVDE ANNOUNCED?

VOTE QUESTION BECAUSE HE WASN'T AN ANNOUNCED CANDIDATE YET.

THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME OF POLLING THAT.

HOVDE HAS GOTTEN BETTER KNOWN SINCE JANUARY, WHEN WE DID ASK IF YOU HAD A FAVORABLE OR UNFAVORABLE VIEW.

THEN IN JANUARY, 82% SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH TO HAVE AN OPINION.

THIS TIME IT IS 56% SO SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN NAME RECOGNITION BUT STILL MORE THAN HALF THE ELECTORATE DON'T HAVE AN OPINION.

THAT IS TOTALLY NORMAL FOR NONINCOME WANT CANDIDATES FOR THIS STAGE BUT BY COMPARISON 11% SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPINION OF TAMMY BALDWIN.

NUMBERS ARE EVEN AT 50%.

WHAT IS THE IMPLICATION OF THAT?

50/50 TIE MEANS THIS COULD LOOK LIKE A CLOSE RACE WHEN PEOPLE WERE THINKING OF BALDWIN'S 11-POINT ONE SIX YEARS AGO THIS LOOKS LIKE A MUCH CLOSER RACE THAN IN 2018.

THE OTHER IS THAT I THINK HOVDE ACTUALLY BENEFITS IN AN ODD KIND OF WAY IN THAT 50/50 SPLIT WE ARE SAYING DEMOCRAT TAMMY BALDWIN OR REPUBLICAN ERIC HOVDE WHEN HALF THE ELECTORATE DON'T HAVE AN OPINION OF HOVDE SUPPLYING THE REPUBLICAN LABEL HELPS THEM DECIDE THIS IS SOMEONE ON MY TEAM OR MAYBE NOT ON MY TEAM.

TWO OTHER WAYS OF ASKING THE QUESTION SHOW A RANGE OF ANSWERS WITH BALDWIN AHEAD BY AS MUCH AS SEVEN OR FIVE AS WE HAVE JUST EMPHASIZED ON THE REGISTERED VOTER, OR TIED.

SO IT IS A RANGE OF THINGS.

I THINK A CLOSE RACE IS THE BEST ANSWER TO TAKE AWAY FROM IT.

>> LOOKING KIND OF DEEPER INTO THE ENTHUSIASM PART OF YOUR POLLING SPECIFIC TO -- VERY ENTHUSIASTIC COMPARED TO 59% OF TRUMP VOTERS.

THEN FOR NOT AT ALL ENTHUSIASTIC TO VOTE 62% SAY THAT FOR JOE BIDEN, 37% FOR DONALD TRUMP.

>> I THINK THIS IS REALLY THE LOOK OF THE RACE, THAT TRUMP HAS A VERY SUPPORTIVE, VERY ENTHUSIASTIC GROUND BEHIND HIM.

BIDEN VOTERS ARE JUST SIMPLY MAYBE BIDEN VOTERS.

THEY ARE CERTAINLY MOSTLY NOT TRUMP VOTERS BUT NOT EXCITED ABOUT THE RACE OR ENTHUSIASTIC.

THEY LIKE THE COUNTRY HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT BIDEN'S AGE, ISRAEL AND HAMAS AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE MAKING BIDEN SUPPORTERS UNENTHUSIASTIC EVEN IF THEY ARE STILL COMMITTED TO VOTING FOR THEM.

YOU MOBILIZE THOSE UNENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT ERS.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THE ISSUE, THE TOP THREE ISSUES WERE THE ECONOMY, IMMIGRATION AND ABORTION.

IT SEEMS OF NOTE THAT THE ISSUE OF ISRAEL AND GAZA WAS WAY DOWN THE LIST AT 2%.

>> WAY DOWN.

AMONG PEOPLE 18 TO 29 IT WAS 7% THAT SAID ISRAEL AND GAZA WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM.

I THINK THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE THAT INDIVIDUAL GROUPS AND PARTICULAR ISSUES CAN MOBILIZE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY STRONG OPINIONS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE OR EVEN AMONG YOUNG VOTERS AND IT IS LESS THAN 7% AMONG DEMOCRATS AND PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES VERY LIB RAT.

THE OTHER THING ON THIS ISSUE IS THAT DEMOCRATS PUT ABORTION AS THE FIRST ISSUE BUT IMMIGRATION ONLY GETS 1% AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS.

IT AND THE ECONOMY ARE BY FAR THE TOP TWO ISSUES FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> ALL RIGHT, CHARLES FRANKLIN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A MENOMINEE NATION LAWSUIT AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS LIKE META, SNAP, UBER AND TIKTOK BLAMES THE COMPANIES FOR REWIRING THE BRAINS OF TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS, CAUSING SUICIDAL DISTRESS.

THE SUIT ALLEGES THE ALGORITHMS CODED IN TO THE PLATFORMS ENCOURAGING OBSESSIVE SCROLLING AND RESULTING NEGATIVE SELF-IMAGE, ESPECIALLY AMONG GIRLS.

THE LAWSUIT CITES THE CDC, SAYING TRIBAL SUICIDE RATES FAR EXCEED THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, ALLEGING A LINK TO SOCIAL MEDIA USE.

WE ARE JOINED NOW BY ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE MENOMINEE INDIAN TRIBE, TIMOTHY PURDON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOUR LAWSUIT DESCRIBE HOW THIS HAS DEVASTATED TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION AMONG THE MENOMINEE IN WISCONSIN?

COUNTRY THE RESERVATION COMMUNITIES LIKE MENOMINEE, YOU KNOW, OR A LONG TIME, DECADES REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE TRIBAL YOUTH, THE TEENAGE POPULATIONS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, REALLY SOME OF THE MOST AT-RISK POPULATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU LOOK AT ANY OF THE STATISTICS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE RATES, THOSE SORT OF THINGS, A NATIVE AMERICAN FEMALE TEENAGER HAS A FIVE-TIME RATE OF SUICIDE RISK TO A WHITE FEMALE TEENAGER.

THOSE SORTS OF STATISTICS ARE ALL TOO OFTEN IN INDIAN COUNTRIESN.

THE LAST TEN YEARS WE HAVE SEEN INJECTED INTO THAT VULNERABLE POPULATION THE SOPHISTICATED BUSINESS PRACTICES AND ALGORITHMS O OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES WHICH THE GROWING RESEARCH AND DATA DIRECTLY LINKS TO DECREASE -- >> IN YOUR BELIEF DOES A YOUNG PERSON ENGAGING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA APPS CONTRIBUTE TO THIS?

CLEAR.

THE CDC STUDIES ARE CLEAR AND ESTABLISH A LINK.

SO THAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS BEHIND THIS LAWSUIT AND A NUMBER OF THER LAWSUITS.

LET'S BE CLEAR, MENOMINEE ENTITY IS NOT THE FIRST TO COME FORWARD AND SEW THE SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS FOR NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR THE TEEN MENTAL HEALTH.

AT LEAST 41 STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL FILED LAWSUITS SIMILAR TO OURS LAST OCTOBER AGAINST THESE COMPANIES INCLUDING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR STATE OF WISCONSIN.

THIS IS A NATIONWIDE EPIDEMIC, CRISIS.

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IMPACTING YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE POINT OF OUR LAWSUIT IS IN THE MIX OF ALL THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION OF TEENAGERS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE NATIVE TEENS LIVING IN THEIR RESERVATION COMMUNITIES.

>> SO THAT IS WHY THIS IS WHAT YOU DESCRIBE AS A FIRST OF ITS KIND LAWSUIT?

HISTORICALLY OVER THE LAST 150 YEARS TRIBAL NATIONS HAVE NOT NECESSARILY COME FORWARD AND EXERCISED THEIR SOVEREIGNTY IN THIS WAY.

COMING FORWARD, FILING A LAWSUIT ON A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IMPACTING THEIR RESERVATION AS IT IS IMPACTING THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

IN THE BIG TOBACCO CASES OF LATE 90s, AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES WERE NOT PLAINTIFFS, THEY DID NOT SUE.

WHEN THEY SETTLED TRIBAL COMMUNITIES DIDN'T SHARE IN THE SETTLEMENT DOLLARS.

OVER THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS THAT HAS CHANGED AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN LITIGATION AGAINST OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS FOR THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

AGAIN, AN EPIDEMIC THAT HAS HIT TRIBES HARD.

OVER 250 FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES FILED LAWSUIT AGAINST THE OPIOID MANUFACTURERS.

WHEN THOSE SETTLED OVER 1.5 BILLION WILL FLOW DIRECTLY TO TRIBES FROM THOSE SETTLEMENTS.

THIS IS THE LATEST SITUATION WHERE TRIBES ARE EXERCISING THEIR SOVEREIGNTY.

SITTING SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM WISCONSIN, FROM MINNESOTA, BRINGING THE CASES SAYING WE ARE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, WE ARE SOV R SOVEREIGN AND OUR PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED, IT IS A ROBUST EFFORT BY TRIBES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WHAT IS YOUR SUIT SEEK ING?ENTER >> THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

THE SUIT ALLEGES THERE'S BEEN A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS CREATED.

WE ARE SEEKING COMPENSATION, ABATEMENT.

WE WANT TO SEE THAT THE DOLLARS FLOW TO THE TRIBES SO THEY CAN DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE GROWING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE CRISIS THAT IS LINKED TO THE BUSINESS PRACTICES OF SOME OF THESE DEFENDANTS.

>> SO ARE THERE SPECIFIC IDEAS, TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, ON THE PART OF THE TRIBES OF HOW THEY WOULD SPECIFICALLY USE THIS MONEY?

THE -- WE ARE TAKING THE FIRST STEP IN WHAT COULD BE A VERY LONG JOURNEY TOWARDS JUSTICE HERE.

TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE AT THE END IS A LITTLE PREMATURE.

I CAN TELL YOU IN THE OPIOID CASES TRIBES THAT HAVE RECEIVED SOME OF THAT 1.5 BILLION HAVE BUILT TREATMENT FACILITIES, EXPANDED TREATMENT OPPORTUNITIES ON THE RESERVATION AND IN THOSE SORTS OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, MENTAL HEALTH CARE OPTIONS ARE ALL TOO SCARCE IN INDIAN COUNTRY.

SO ANY MONEYS BROUGHT IN TO HELP PEOPLE ON THE RESERVATION IS A BIG HELP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE LEAVE IT THERE.

TIMOTHY PURDON, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ACTION PART NEW FEDERAL LEVEL S HAVE BEEN SET AT FOUR PARTS PER TRILLION, MUCH LOWER THAN WISCONSIN'S 70 PARTS PER TRILLION.

ON INACTION PART LAWMAKER S HAVE REJECTED GOVERNOR EBERS CALL TO SPEND 125 MILLION TO DEAL WITH PFAS .ENTER STATE AND NATIONAL LAWSUITS AGAINST PARTIES DEEMED RESPONSIBLE FOR PFAS CONTAMINATION ARE IN VARIOUS ONE TRIAL GOES ON LATER THIS YEAR.

TYCO MANUFACTURED FIRE FIGHTING FOAM USED AT TRAIN FACILITY, AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES INCLUDING PESHTIGO ARE HOT SPOTS.

AFTER YEARS OF TESTING, FIGHTING, LOOKING FOR HELP OUR NEXT GUEST IS FORMER CHAIR OF THE TOWN OF PESHTIGO GOOSH BOARD, CINDY BOYLE.

YOUR OWN PROPERTY?

YEARS.

>> SO THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HOPING TO COME TO THE RESCUE OF PLACES LIKE PESHTIGO FROM STATE, THE FED, LAWSUITSES, COMPANY OUTLAYS.

HAS THAT MONEY YET MADE A DIFFERENCE?

THERE IS SIGNIFICANT FUNDING COMING TO STATES ON WHAT APPEARS TO BE A CONSISTENT BASIS AT THIS POINT FOR MORE THAN WE COULD HAVE HOPED FOR EVEN SEVEN YEARS AGO, OR SIX YEARS AGO.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE NOT NO A SIGNIFICANT MEANINGFUL WAY AS FAR AS A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, NO YET BUT THE DNR IS PUTTING THAT TO WORK AND WE HAVE TO GET THAT FUNDING RELEASED FROM TRUST AND INTO THE DNR DIRECTION.

>> AS TO THE IN-FIGHTING OVER 125 MILLION WHAT DO RESIDENTS LIKE YOURSELF THINK ABOUT THAT FIGHTING IN MADISON WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THIS URGENT HELP?

IT IS COMPLICATED, AS ARE ALL THINGS PFAS.

BUT I WONDER -- I UNDERSTOOD VERY WELL THAT SB312 LEGISLATION AND UNDERSTOOD THE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT.

I'M CONCERNED -- I'M GRATEFUL GOVERNOR EBERS DID VETO.

WE AS A STATE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS BILL'S LAW WEAKENED.

IT IS THE SINGLE MECHANISM BY WHICH RESIDENTS IN WISCONSIN HAVE PROTECTION WITH THE DNR.

IF THEY LOSE THAT PROTECTION IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM OUR COMMUNITY FOR ONE WOULD NEVER HAVE BENEFITTED FROM HELP THEY HAVE PROVIDED US SO WE NEED TO KEEP THAT FOREMOST IN OUR MINDS AS THINGS GO FORWARD.

I AM VERY, VERY HOPEFUL THAT NEW LEGISLATION WILL MAKE ITS WAY OR THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL AT LEAST RELEASE THOSE FUNDS AS INTENDED OVER A YEAR AGO.

IT NEEDS TO START BEING ABLE TO BE PUT TO WORK.

>> SO PFAS IS COMPLICATED.

ALL THE REMEDIATIONS AND ALL THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES AND ALL OF IT.

HAS THIS DIVIDED YOUR COMMUNITY?

PEOPLE GET A LITTLE BIT WORN OUT.

MAYBE THEY GET A LITTLE DEFEATED AND FEEL LIKE THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE A SOLUTION OR MAYBE PEOPLE THOUGHT THE SETTLEMENT THAT TYCO DISTRIBUTED THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY WAS THE BEST THEY COULD HOPE FOR AND ARE NOW CHOOSING TO NOT THINK ABOUT IT.

I DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW THE TOPIC TOO WELL TO DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS, SO MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO ARE IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLES AND ADVOCACY ROLES ARE MOVING FORWARD TOWARD SAFE WATER AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY.

>> YOU DESCRIBE BEING EXCITED ABOUT A NEW ANNOUNCEMENT OUT OF THE EPA.

WHAT WAS THAT.

>> YES.

SO THIS MORNING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FINALIZED A RULE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 40 YEARS.

THEY ARE DEEMING PFOA AND PF OS AS HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, WHICH IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT WILL QUALIFY THEM UNDER SUPERFUND THAT.

SEEMS CONTRADICTORY TO HOPE YOUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR SUPERFUND BECAUSE BASICALLY MEANS YOU LIVE IN A VERY POLLUTED AREA BUT MEANS THE EPA HAS THE AUTHORITY TO HOLD PARTIES RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THEY DO ADEQUATE, COMPREHENSIVE REMEDIATION FOR THINGS LIKE SURFACE WATER, SOILS, AS WELL AS HELP INNOCENT LAND OWNERS SUCH AS MYSELF HAVE PERMANENT SAFE WATER SOLUTIONS.

AFTER TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT THERE WAS UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE NEXT STEPS FOR THIS.

WITH TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT WE ARE VERY VINDICATED AND ENCOURAGED AND OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE IS STILL A STRONG PATH FORWARD, SO WE ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL THIS RULE HAS GONE INTO PLACE.

>> COMBINE THAT WITH RECENT EPA SETTING MAX AT FOUR PARTS PER TRILLION, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

AFFECT US BECAUSE WE ARE ON PRIVATE DRINKING WELLS BUT LAST WEEK AGO WEDNESDAY -- SO ALL PEOPLE ON WATER THROUGH PUBLIC UTILITY HAVE ASSURANCE OF PROTECTION, ESPECIALLY FOR WISCONSIN, WE HAD AS YOU MENTIONED 70 PARTS PER TRILLION AND EPA ADJUSTED THAT TO FOUR PARTS PER TRILLION, A MORE PROTECTIVE NUMBER.

WE ARE GRATEFUL.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN 30 YEARS.

THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT STEPS.

I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU STRAIGHT.

THAT TELLS ME TWO THINGS: INDUSTRY LOBBYISTS ARE VERY GOOD AT THEIR JOB.

NUMBER TWO, IT TELLS YOU HOW BAD PFAS IS THAT THOSE TWO RULES STILL WERE MADE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CINDY BOYLE, WE LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> JUST BEFORE THE APRIL ELECTION WE REPORTED ON THE RISE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE GOING TO REFERENDUM FOR OPERATING EXPENSES.

IN FEBRUARY AND APRIL VOTERS APPROVE 41 OPERATING REFERENDUM, THE BIGGEST 250 BILLION A YEAR FOR MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUT A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS FOUND REQUESTS DENIED.

THE TWO WE PROFILED, FORT ATKINSON AND RICHLAND, SAW THEIRS PASSED.

SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTERS AT SCHULZ TELLS US THEY USED THE SAME METHOD TO MAKE THEIR REFERENDUM LOOK MORE APPEALING TO VOTERS PROMISING THE TAX INCREASE WOULDN'T COST THEM ANYTHING.

>> IN THE RUNUP TO ELECTION DATE THE FORT ATKINSON SCHOOL DISTRICT HELD A PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION ON THE REFERENDUM.

REFERENDUM PROVIDES THE DISTRICT TO USE FUNDS DIFFERENTLY.

>> THE DISTRICT WAS TELLING VOTERS THE OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM WOULD LET THEM LEVEE ADDITIONAL 6.5 MILLION A YEAR FOR THREE YEARS TO AVOID MORE CUTS BUT IT WAS PROM MISSION VO PROMISING VOTERS IT WOULD NOT RESULT IN TAX INCREASE.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE FIGURES STRAIGHT BECAUSE I'M HAVING TROUBLE RELATING.

>> A LOT OF CONFUSION.

>> I'M AFRAID I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION.

>> HERE IS THE AMOUNT IF THE ATKINSON RECEIVES FROM PROPERTY TAXES.

THEY COULD PROMISE 6.5 MILLION INCREASE FOR THE NEXT ATHLETE YEARS WOULDN'T INC BECAUSE THEY RAISED LEVEE BY 7 MILLION THE YEAR BEFORE TO PREPAY A CONSTRUCTION LOAN CALLED DEFEASANCE.

IF THE REFERENDUM PASSED THEY WOULD GO BACK TO PAYING THE NORMAL PAYMENT IN FUTURE YEARS.

DEFEASENCE IS PREPAYING INTEREST.

ABBOT SAYS AFTER THE REFERENDUM FAIL ED THE PRIOR YEARS THE SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED TO RAISE LEVEE TO PREPAID DEBT.

>> THE IDEA OF DEFEASANCE OR PREPAYING DEBT IS DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND BUT DEFINITELY IS A STRATEGY THAT IS A LONG-TERM BENEFIT TO THE TAXPAYER.

IN OUR CASE IT EQUATES TO AROUND 3.4 MILLION IN SAVINGS OF INTEREST OVER THE TERM OF THOSE 20-YEAR BONDS.

>> BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS CLEARLY DIDN'T WANT TO SAY THEY HAD ALREADY RAISED TAXES ON THEIR OWN.

THEY DESCRIBED IT AS NEEDING VOTER APPROVAL TO REALLOCATE FUNDS.

>> THEY ARE SAYING WE NEED MONEY TO MAINTAIN CURRENT PROGRAMMING WE HAVE.

WE CAN'T USE THAT FUNDING OVER THERE THAT WE USED TO PREPAY THE DEBT.

>> IT REALLY WASN'T SINKING IN.

>> OF THAT PREPAID 7 MILLION ONE-TIME PAYMENT, THEY ARE SEEKING PERMISSION TO SHIP 6.5 MILLION THREE TIMES.

>> WE ARE LEVEEING THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT OVER EACH YEAR.

APPROXIMATE -- VOTER PERMISSION.

>> DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER WE VOTE YES OR NO.

YOU ARE STILL GOING TO JUST MOVE IT AROUND TH IS -- >> IN OUR BEST EFFORTS TO BE AS SIMPLE OR TO BE AS CONCRETE AS POSSIBLE WHEN TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL FINANCE, IT STILL IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW ALL OF THAT WORKS.

DISTRICT AN INCREASE IN STATE AID A COUPLE YEARS AGO WOULD HAVE MEANT A DROP IN THE TAX RATE.

>> WE WANTED TO STABILIZE THAT MILL RATE AND USE THAT TO PRE-PAY SOME OF OUR EXISTING DEBT.

BOARD SAID THE SCHOOL DECIDED TO USE DEFEASANCE TO KEEP THE RATE THE SAME.

>> WE HAVE TAKEN AN 8.7 MILLION DEBT AND CUT DOWN TO JUST UNDER FOUR MILLION.

>> THAT HELPED THEM TO GET THIS TAX NEUTRAL AS WELL.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT GAP TO DO THIS OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM AT ZERO TAX IMPACT.

>> BOTH DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS SAY THIS USE TO SET UP THE OPERATING REFERENDUM WAS KEY TO PASSAGE.

CAN LIVE WITHOUT SO WE ARE FORCED TO CREATE AN EFFORT THAT WILL HOP FULLY BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE IN PASSING REFERENDUM.

REFERENDUM PASSED BY 139 VOTES.

FORT ATKINSON BY 79.

SOME NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME RESULTS.

VOTERS IN MOSSTON REJECTED BY 480 VOTES.

VOTERS IN THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT REJECTED THEIRS BY 685.

BOTH MOSSTON AND JEFFERSON WERE ASKING FOR LESS MONEY THAN THEIR NEIGHBORS BUT EACH OF THOSE CAME WITH A TAX INCREASE.

SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE MORE DISTRICTS USING DEFEASANCE?

HAVE REFERENDUM DEBT FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY ARE TAKING OUT BONDS ON AND USE THAT STRATEGY TO STABILIZE THE MILL RATE.

IF THEY ARE NOT PASSING AN ADDITIONAL REFERENDUM THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN KEEP THAT TAX RATE STABLE OR WHERE IT HAD BEEN IS PRE-PAY DEBT, IF THEY HAVE DEBT.

BUT OF COURSE WHEN DISTRICTS RUN OUT OF DEBT THAT OPPORTUNITY EVAPORATES AS WELL.

>> FROM FORT ATKINSON I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW".

>> FOR THIS AND MORE VISIT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

♪ >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.