Schools
Board of Education Could Vote on Levy Referendum Proposal Tonight
Discussion of the proposal appears on the agenda for tonight's meeting. If the resolution is approved, residents would vote Nov. 5 on as much as a $450 per-pupil increase in general education revenue.
The Lakeville Board of Education could vote tonight to call a levy referendum in November.
Although the draft ballot included in the agenda packet for tonight’s board meeting does not include a dollar figure, the resolution that accompanies the ballot calls for a general education revenue increase of $450 per pupil unit.
Click here to see the resolution.
Find out what's happening in Lakevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The size of the per-pupil increase potentially could drop before the Nov. 5 election, however, depending on board discussions planned for next month.
If the levy increase is approved, property owners would begin paying more school taxes beginning with their 2014 property tax bills.
Find out what's happening in Lakevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Here is a report about the levy proposal prepared by School Superintendent Lisa Snyder. It also is included in the board’s meeting materials.
As you know, the Senate language calls for a levy freeze for 2014-15 unless a resolution was passed by April 22nd. [The Association of Metropolitan School Districts] is lobbying to remove the language and or move the date out to give districts more time to pass the resolution. They are recommending that districts who are intending a fall election pass a resolution as soon as possible.
Since we have been working toward a Fall levy for the past year and a half to avoid additional budget reductions approximated for 5-7 million for 2014-15, the Board will want to consider this opportunity to be in compliance with a potential law being considered. This ensures that our community has opportunity to vote and weigh in on the district's budget issues.
[Minnesota School Board Association] Director Greg Abbott, suggested that Boards do a resolution on the higher amount a board may be considering and then amend it to a lower point later if needed. We have to amend by 53 days before the vote (Aug. 23rd). If we take MSBA's advice, the resolution would be for 450. per student which the results show we have a 41-50% chance in passing.
$450. per pupil equates to a tax increase for 2014-15 of $238. on an average priced home ($238,000). At the board retreat on June 14th, the Board could consider varying per pupil amounts along with the resulting tax rate and approval rates.
Click here to see the report.
The Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. at the district office.
Click here to see tonight’s agenda.
