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 By Jon Tatting
editor.countynews@ecm-inc.com
Residents of Cambridge-Isanti District 911 began casting votes at 7
a.m. today (until 8 tonight) on the proposed, two-part levy referendum
that would generate $3 million a year for 10 years. Polling places are Cambridge
City Center Mall and Isanti City Hall.
Pictured: Approaching the noon hour at Cambridge City Center Mall, voters find and sign their names prior to casting their votes on District 911’s excess levy questions. Voters did the same at Isanti City Hall. The district chose not to open other polling places, such as township halls, due to the costs involved. (Photo by Jon Tatting)
In Braham, voters from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. will be choosing three school
board members (for terms of four years each) at Braham Area High
School. Incumbents Steven L. Eklund and Max A. Eng had already filed.
Why a levy now in Dist. 911?
Why is the district pursuing a levy now? Cambridge-Isanti’s current operating levy—totalling $108.61 per pupil, having generated $603,629 each year since 2004—will expire at the end of this school year. If not renewed, the district will be faced with no excess levy funds after June 30, 2010.
The levy is designed to keep Cambridge-Isanti schools from allowing
larger class sizes and cutting $2 million worth of student
opportunities, programs, teachers and staff.
In the Nov. 3 special referendum election, question #1 will ask voters to pass $288.73 per pupil. This would raise $1,604,695 per year. Of this amount, $226,165 would be additional state aid that the district would not receive without this levy.
Question #2, meanwhile, is asking for an additional $319.88 per pupil, which would raise an additional $1,777,820 per year. Of this amount, $250,565 would be additional state aid the district would not receive without this levy.
In other words, the failed levy would mean District 911 would lose out on $450,000 in additional state aid to other school districts that have approved similar proposals. Area school districts with levies on the Nov. 3 ballot include Anoka-Hennepin, Big Lake, Centennial, Milaca, Mora, North Branch, St. Francis and Spring Lake Park.
Property tax impacts
The increase in tax on the average home if question #1 passes is $64.93. With the second question, it’s $117.44.
The total cost on the average home if both questions pass: $182.37, or about $15 per month as reflected on the school portion of one’s property tax bill.
Log onto www.cambridge.k12.mn.us for the district’s “Referendum Information and Tax Calculator” link. It will help estimate the tax effect for residential, agriculture and other properties.
More money outlooks
Overall, if question #1 passes, District 911 will still need to make reductions in fiscal 2011. If the second question passes, the district estimates (through current information) it shouldn’t have to make reductions in the next two fiscal years.
In the past five years, alone, the district made over $5 million in budget cuts that have eliminated in part fifth-grade band and the high school marching band; cut teaching positions and fine arts, technology and apprenticeship programs; as well as increased class sizes.
In addition, the average operating levy for fiscal year 2010 in the state of Minnesota is $825, compared to Cambridge-Isanti’s current levy at $108.61. Yet if both questions pass at $608.61, the district is still well below the state average.
Cambridge-Isanti currently ranks 318th out of 339 Minnesota districts for per-student revenue.
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