Eden Prairie School Board Weighs Referendum Vote in November

The Eden Prairie School Board is considering whether to ask voters for more money in a referendum election this November.

At a workshop, Superintendent Curt Tryggestad and district administrators presented three referendum proposals to the board, according to a school district news release.

The recommended referendum questions are:

• Ballot question No. 1: Revoke the existing operating levy of $1,200 per pupil unit and replace it with a levy for $1,666.54 per pupil unit each year for the next 10 years beginning with the 2014-2015 school year; the ballot question would also include language to allow the district to increase the per pupil levy amount as the state increases the referendum cap.
• Ballot question No. 2: Renew the existing technology/capital projects levy at a 6.52955 percent tax rate for the next 10 years beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.
• Ballot question No. 3: Propose a bond referendum amount of $5-$10 million for safety and security updates at district schools; the details and the exact dollar amount will be determined in the coming weeks.

The operational levy would have a tax impact of $155 for a $250,000 home. The technology levy would not change tax bills because it’s being renewed at its current level. The bond referendum would add $6 to $11 annually for a $300,000 home.

The operating levy and technology/capital levy will expire at the end of the 2014-15 school year if they’re not renewed. According to a district presentation, the administration is recommending to renew the levies early in order to:

• Avoid competing with statewide elections in 2014,
• Allow the possibility of going back if the referenda fail,
• Take advantage of having information on biennial state funding and
• Have more-stable, long-term funding, which allows for better planning.

If the operating referendum expired, the district’s revenue would fall 18 percent, from $96.6 million to $79 million in 2015-16, according to the presentation. If it renewed the operating at its current level of $1,200 per student, revenues are forecasted to drop to $92 million in 2015—short of the projected $98.7 million in expenses. Even increasing it to the cap, will leave the district short by about $900,000 unless further cuts are made.

The technology/capital levy will pay salary and benefits for technology staff, digital devices, technology infrastructure and other related expenses.

The bonds will pay for front entrance renovations at all schools, enhanced technology, parking lot reconfiguration at Eden Lake and Oak Point elementary schools and other safety and security improvements.

The board plans to continue discussion of the referendum through the spring and make a decision early in the summer.

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Click on the PDF to the right of this article to see the whole presentation. Then share your thoughts in the comments section below on whether you're willing to pay more in taxes.