Majority of Minnesota school referendums that would increase taxes fail on Election Day
MINNEAPOLIS — Many Minnesotans had to decide whether to approve additional funding for their local schools.
Sixty-four questions related to schools showed up on Minnesota ballots across the state this election. Twenty-nine of them passed. Thirty-five of them failed.
For Minneapolis Public Schools, a $20-million technology levy passed by about 66% on Tuesday.
"We are super grateful for the people of Minneapolis for approving this," said Minneapolis Public Schools School Board Chair Collin Beachy.
Beachy says this fully funds the technology budget, freeing up more dollars in the general fund, adding that the community support comes at a time after a budget shortfall of at least $110 million last year.
"We had some painful cuts we had to make last year without this levy it would be $20 million more cuts we would have to make," Beachy said. "There would have been impacts to the classroom."
The impact to Minneapolis homeowners is about $8 per month for someone with a $350,000 house.
It's a much different story for Rockford Area Schools, just northwest of the Twin Cities. That district's funding request failed on Tuesday.
Superintendent Jeff Ridlehoover said they were asking for safety, security and technology upgrades.
"This money is going to have to come from somewhere and conversations will start tomorrow on what might have to be on the cutting board," Ridlehoover said.
The price tag was $9 million over 10 years. For the average homeowner there, it would've cost about $13 per month.
Ridlehoover said tough conversations will begin Thursday about where the budget cuts need to happen because the children in the district need these tools to be successful. He said he's hopeful it doesn't come down to staff cuts.
