Lesson #4 on Operating Referendums
Since the 2004-05 school year, the state general education revenue formula has not kept pace with inflation. Other funding sources for special education and capital projects have also lagged behind. During the past decade, increases in the pupil funding formula have varied from 0 percent to 2 percent annually. The only options left for school districts to bridge this funding gap are to cut budgets or increase referendum revenue; many districts are forced to do both. We?Äôre fortunate at EV-W that we don?Äôt have to make cuts or ask for an increase in referendum revenue, we?Äôre asking our residents to renew our current referendum at $307.80 per pupil unit.
The trends in referendum revenue demonstrate a significant increase in the number of school districts that rely on operating referendum revenue. Back in 1993 there were 65 percent of districts that had voter-approved referendum authority. Today, there are more than 99 percent of districts that receive referendum revenue. In fact, there are only two school districts in the state that do not have any referendum authority in place. For 2016, the average referendum authority per pupil unit minus any local optional revenue is $717. During a special election Tuesday, Nov. 3, the EV-W School District will be asking residents to renew our current referendum of $307.80 for another 10 years. The difference between the expiring referendum authority and the proposed renewal will be $0 tax impact.
Referendum Information Meetings
The school district will be hosting two informational meetings to answer your questions about the upcoming referendum renewal. The first meeting will take place Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the EV-W High School Cafeteria. The second meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Watkins Elementary Gym. If you?Äôre unable to attend, don?Äôt hesitate to give me a call at (320)
453-2900 ext. 1143, or, check out the referendum links located on the home page www.evw.k12.mn.us/, of the district?Äôs website.
Support Staff Recognition
It was a privilege to attend the Educational Support Staff Recognition Banquet sponsored by Resource Training and Solutions Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the River?Äôs Edge Convention Center. Once again, I?Äôd like to commend the EV-W recipients Jen Brovold, Sheri Schumacher, and Holly Lahr for their demonstration of quality educational support and assistance in the EV-W School District. This annual banquet also provides us with the timely opportunity to recognize all of our bus drivers, cleaners and buildings/grounds staff, cooks, educational and media/technology support staff, and clerical support for their commitment and dedicated service to the students and staff of EV-W. We appreciate all of you and want to thank you.