SOMONAUK – Somonauk School District 432 is once again placing its fiscal future in the hands of voters.

School board President Tom Nielsen said a referendum to allow the board to raise the education fund tax rate up to 4 percent will be on the April 9 ballot. Nielsen emphasized that this didn’t mean the tax would go up; the board would just have the permission to increase it if necessary.

If the referendum is passed, District 432 could avoid making more than $800,000 in program cuts and layoffs this year. The district has been struggling with keeping its finances afloat as property values in the area drop.