School districts in Minnesota are holding referendums as they say funding is needed more than ever

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) — The Moorhead Public School District is telling voters the money is needed now more than ever.

“Over the last twenty years, since about 2005, is that the big portion of how we collect our revenue has not kept up with inflation. So, there’s about a $1,300 gap there, had our formula kept up with inflation. And when you look at it from that perspective, that would equate to about $9 million,” said Brandon Lunak, Moorhead Public Schools Superintendent.

Last year, a vote on a $4.3 million capital project levy failed. This year, there are two questions on the ballot….one proposes an annual operating levy of $4.37 million for day-to-day operations. The second proposes an additional $1.5 million for equipment, transportation, and other needed funding.

“The big thing that I want our community to understand is that those additional dollars that we’re asking the voters to support here in November would go to our programs and the district operating bottom line,” said Lunak.

The district this year made $4 million in budget cuts, Lunak says, if the vote does not pass, they will need to make an additional $5 million in cuts in staffing, security, transportation, and more.

Breckenridge is also asking voters to approve a capital project levy for ten years to raise approximately $6 million.

Superintendent Kristie Sullivan says, “This referendum is about creating safe, modern learning spaces that support every student’s growth…The result is a shared vision for a single, unified PreK–12 campus that will strengthen learning opportunities…”

Voters in both districts go to the polls on November 4th.

Lunak says if the vote passes the district won’t see the funds until the next school year.