Levy Referendum Still Under Discussion in District 196

Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district board members have a big decision to make: Will they or won’t they decide to add a levy referendum to the November election ballot?

A board workshop likely will be scheduled next week to discuss the matter, District 196 Communications Specialist Tony Taschner said; the deadline to put a question on the ballot is Aug. 25.

The district has $1,042 per pupil in place, Taschner said, which is available until 2015.

That money comes from three separate levy questions that were approved by voters in 2005, and that specific levy lasts 10 years.

The state sets a maximum per-pupil amount each year that a district could levy; this year's maximum is $1,600 per pupil.

“This amount is determined by law, ultimately, and accounts for inflation, which recently has been very minimal,” Taschner said. “[The state] provides the district with the authority to levy property taxes against local taxpayers … to support operations.”

In 2010, the district decided to request a levy referendum on the November election ballot, asking taxpayers to vote to provide a little more than $500 extra per pupil, or $15 million over 10 years. .

This year, the state has granted the district approval to ask for about $500 to $600 extra per pupil from taxpayers in the referendum.

The tax impact on residents likely would vary.

“It changes from year to year," Taschner said. "It depends on the total value of properties and so on."

The subject of requesting a levy referendum this year is not new to board members. In July, the board received a financial update that included the option of a levy referendum, Taschner said.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the deadline for putting a levy referendum question on the ballot. The deadline is Aug. 25.