The South Koochiching-Rainy River School District’s operating referendum is one of the questions the voters of the sistrict will be deciding during this year’s general election.

 If the referendum is successful, the additional funds generated by the referendum will assist the sistrict in making new technology available to our students, assist in paying for transportation costs associated with replacing older vehicles and rising fuel costs, and the increased costs associated with ongoing maintenance of our buildings, which continues to increase as our buildings age.

The sistrict’s levy has decreased significantly in recent years and that trend continues with next year’s levy decreasing 21 percent from this year’s levy.  The levy decreases we’ve experienced in recent years will result in a significant decrease in revenue available to our school district.  Because this year’s decrease in the district’s levy is so significant, should the referendum be successful, the district would be able to hold next year’s property tax payments to the level that was paid during 2011 and 2012 and still be able to gain a significant amount of revenue to assist the district.  An operating referendum is one of the few sources of funding that also allows our district to receive additional funding from the state of Minnesota.  For every $1 levied, we estimate an additional $1.18 would be available as aid from the state of Minnesota.  In addition, any levy associated with the operating referendum would not apply to property classified as seasonal recreation or agricultural land, so those properties will see a reduction in their school property taxes over the property taxes paid in 2011 and 2012.

Again, the district’s goal, should the referendum pass, is to set the district’s levy at a rate so that property taxes on property classified as commercial, residential homestead, and farm homestead would remain around the same level as it was during 2011 and 2012 for as long as the district’s finances remain in good shape and the legislature doesn’t make significant changes to our property tax system. 

If you have questions regarding the upcoming referendum, please feel free to contact me at Northome School at 897-5275, ext 153.