By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — The $48.8 million referendum question for Chippewa Valley Technical College on the April 7 ballot was approved by voters.
The CVTC referendum question received 45,783 “yes” votes to 27,807 “no” votes.
The percentage worked out to be 62 percent “yes” and 38 percent “no” — or almost two to one in favor of the referendum question.
The vote totals for the April 7 election were not tallied until April 13.
Because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the deadline for absentee ballots to be returned to village, city and town clerks was extended from 8 p.m. April 7 to 4 p.m. April 13.
The referendum funding will provide a new transportation center to replace outdated auto and truck learning labs with larger, modern labs equipped for larger enrollments and training on gasoline, hybrid and electric vehicles as well as “smart car” technology.
The money also will be used to expand training facilities for police, fire and paramedics to improve safety and protection for the CVTC campuses and the communities where they are located.
In addition, the referendum funding will purchase land in River Falls for future expansion; install a new automated fabrication manufacturing lab; and provide updates in Chippewa Falls and Menomonie to improve safety and to provide more programming.
The tax impact over the 11-county technical college district is expected to increase property taxes by $13 per year per $100,000 of equalized property value over the next 20 years.
The CVTC District Board approved a resolution on January 16 calling for an April 7 referendum to borrow $48.8 million to fund projects identified in the facilities plans.
The CVTC board authorized a survey of residents in the technical college district in September to find out what their “tax tolerance” would be for construction projects.
The survey determined residents would be likely to fund up to $55 million in construction projects.
CVTC covers an 11-county technical college district that stretches from River Falls to Neillsville.
