Referendum Q & A Outline
November 2009 Election
September 8, 2009
What are the ballot questions? There will be two questions on the November ballot: • Question #1 – Revoke the district’s three existing operating levies that total $1,609.26 per pupil and replace them with one levy for the same per pupil amount of $1,609.26. The renewed levy would be in place for 10 years and continues to have a provision for inflation. • Question #2 – Revoke one of the district’s two existing technology levies that is currently generating about $3.1 million each year and set to expire in two years, and replace it with a levy for the same amount of $3.1 million. The renewed levy would in place for 10 years. When is the referendum election? The referendum election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Is there anything else on the November 3 ballot? School board positions will also be included on the November 3 ballot. The ballot will include three board seats with four-year terms and one board seat with a two-year term. What is the exact ballot language for the operating levy? The following is the exact ballot language for the operating levy: The board of Independent School District 284 (Wayzata Public Schools) has proposed to revoke the school district’s existing referendum revenue authorization of $1,609.26 per pupil and to replace that authorization with a new authorization of $1,609.26 per pupil. The school district’s actual referendum revenue authorization for any year shall not exceed the statutory maximum for that year. The proposed new referendum revenue authorization would increase each year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for ten years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law. Shall the school district’s existing referendum revenue authorization be revoked and the increase in the revenue proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 284 be approved?
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What is the exact ballot language for the technology levy? The following is the exact ballot language for the technology levy: The school board of Independent School District No. 284 (Wayzata Public Schools) has also proposed to revoke a portion of its existing capital project levy authorization of 2.535% times the net tax capacity of the school district and to replace that authorization with a new authorization of 2.535% times the net tax capacity of the school district. The proposed new authorization will raise approximately $3,116,710 for taxes payable in 2010, the first years it is to be levied. The proposed authorization would be applicable for ten years and the estimated total cost of the projects to be funded over that time period is approximately $31,167,104. The money raised by the proposed authorization will be used to provide funding for the acquisition, installation and support of improved technology and technology systems in various school district facilities, and the purchase of instructional equipment. The projects to be funded by the proposed authorization have received a positive review and comment from the Commissioner of Education. Shall a portion of the school district’s existing capital project levy authorization be revoked and the new capital project levy authorization proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 284 be approved? How will money from the operating levy be used? The money from the operating levy will continue to be used for the general operations of the school district, which includes employee salaries and benefits, transportation and programs and services for students. The funds will also be used to maintain current class sizes throughout the district. How will money from the technology levy be used? The money from the technology levy will continue to be used for the purchase of technology equipment and staff needed to support the district technology program. These funds will help to purchase updated computers for classrooms and other instructional technology that facilitates student learning. What will happen if the operating levy is not approved? If the operating levy renewal is not approved prior to the 2010-2011 school year, budget reductions of about $9.4 million will be necessary. What will happen if the technology levy is not approved? If the technology levy renewal is not approved prior to the 2010-2011 school year, the district’s technology budget will need to be reduced by about $3.1 million.
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Will property taxes increase if the levies are approved? Renewal of the operating levy and the technology levy will not result in an annual increase in the school portion of property taxes for local residents. For example, the owner of a home with a taxable market value of $400,000 is currently paying $446 annually for the cost of the district’s three existing operating levies. If question #1 is approved, that amount would be revoked and replaced by the same amount resulting in no net change in school property taxes. For the technology levy, the owner of a $400,000 home currently pays $101 annually and would continue to pay the same amount with the proposed renewal. Why are the three current operating levies being rolled into one levy? The decision to combine all three existing levies into one levy was based on two reasons. First, combining the levies provides a 10-year investment in the district at a time when state funding is unpredictable. Second, combining the levies allows the district to hold one election to renew the operating levies instead of three separate elections. Why not renew both technology levies? The district currently has two technology levies that generate about $5.8 million per year. The November referendum ballot will include the renewal of only one of the levies. The levy that is on the ballot expires after the 2010-2011 school year while the second technology levy does not expire until after the 2015-2016 school year. The board decided it would be best to wait to renew the second technology levy because it will not expire for another six years. What does the inflationary increase provision of the operating levy mean? The inflationary increase provision of the operating levy means that the amount of the annual levy could increase slightly. Any inflationary increase in the operating levy is based on a change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and an increase in the state’s education funding formula. The inflationary increase does not automatically occur every year. If these levies are approved, how long will it be until the district schedules another referendum election? There are two factors that will impact the scheduling of a future referendum election. First, the second technology levy will expire after the 2015-2016 school year and will need to be renewed some time before November 2015. Second, the district will be conducting a facilities study during the 2009-2010 school year to determine the need for facility repair, renovation or construction. Depending on the identified needs that come from the study, it may be necessary to conduct a bond referendum election to acquire funding for the building projects. The renewal of the second technology levy and any bond proposal would likely be included on the same election ballot. Why does the ballot language include the statement “By voting YES on this ballot question, you are voting for a property tax increase,” if there is no tax increase for approving the levies? State law requires school districts to include this statement on the ballot unless a levy is being renewed during the same year it expires. This statement will be included on both ballot questions even though there will be no annual tax increase for approving the levies.
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