Yesterday’s election was a chance for forty school districts in the state to put an operating referendum on the ballot. Statewide, 37 referendum questions passed, with 18 fails. According to MPR News, about half of the districts are asking voters to continue levies that are already in place, the other half are asking voters for an increase. Last year, 130 districts came to voters with levies. This fall, it appears that school districts are avoiding asking voters during busy election years for fear their pleas for taxpayer help will be lost amid the rest of the campaign activity.

The variety in levy requests statewide is surprising. The districts in Barnum, Milaca, McGregor and Peqout Lakes are asking for $1 per student. Meanwhile the Red Lake Falls, Fosston, Red Wing and Clearbrook-Gonvick districts are asking for more than $1,000 per student per year. The Hendricks Public School District levy is $2,000 per student.

We are happy to report that schools in Central Minnesota did pretty well with their operating referendums, with only the Royalton district failing. The following schools  may be celebrating a bit today due to passed referendums, and we offer hearty congratulations!

Becker, Delano, Elk River, McGregor, Milaca,  Paynesville, Rocori, Sauk Rapids Rice,

To see the statewide details of the levies, go to http://tinyurl.com/aakn2ko