School Supt. Jim Rydland this week is asking every Dist. 129 household to take a survey on budget and facilities needs.

The Dist. 129 school board is considering whether to ask voters to approve measures to meet these needs and will use survey information as a guide.

In a letter to be mailed Thursday, Rydland tells residents the district has grown by nearly 5,000 students since 1988, the year voters last approved a tax rate increase for the funds that pay for schools’ day-to-day operations. Despite ongoing efforts to control costs, the district is projecting a $1.9 million deficit for 2006-07. Without a voter-approved rate increase, that deficit will swell to approximately $2.9 million by 2008 and go even higher in future years, Rydland states.

Residents will be asked to take the confidential survey online. Paper copies of the survey in English and Spanish also will be available. The deadline is June 18.