The majority of our readers live in one of two school districts: Kimball, and Eden Valley-Watkins. Both have levy votes coming up Nov. 3. Both need you to come out on Election Day and vote ?Äúyes.?Äù
Both districts already have a lot of strengths. The operating levies are critical to maintaining that strength. The additional questions (for Kimball) are sought to make the schools even better, to improve what?Äôs there (science labs and industrial arts) and to offer others that aren?Äôt currently available (community fitness center and auditorium).
Strong communities have strong schools, and strong schools help to make strong communities. Having adequate funding for our schools, for both programs and facilities, helps to make our schools and our communities more desirable. More families moving to our communities is good for all. More students in our schools is good for all.
Eden Valley-Watkins Schools
The simplest of these levies is for the Eden Valley-Watkins Schools. They have an operating levy in place, and seek to continue that. The net tax increase for nearly everyone is $0 (a few may have their school taxes increase by $1 a year). The EV-W district has nearly $1 million in reserve.
If passed, this will be in place for 10 years.
Kimball Area Schools
Kimball Schools will have three questions on the Nov. 3 ballot. The first is an operating levy (revoking the existing levy, and replacing it with a higher one). This operating levy question must pass for the other two questions to even be possible. Because of decreased enrollment, the Kimball district has been operating in deficit (as have several other districts). Average impact is $22 per year for 10 years.
Question 2 provides for upgrading the science classrooms (built around 1970). This includes improving ventilation and other much-needed safety precautions and updates. It also includes returning the industrial arts department to its former size and potential, and making needed safety upgrades there too. This question includes a two-story community fitness center with a wrestling/rec area. Cost (at most) is $5.4 million; average tax impact is $44/year for 20 years.
Question 3 is the addition of a 499-seat auditorium. The plan is not a super-deluxe auditorium, but one that is functional and will serve the purposes of the district and the community for many years to come. It will provide better opportunities for concerts, theatrical productions, and many other events. It will be a well-used addition to the state-of-the-art gym facilities Kimball already enjoys. Cost (at most) is $6.6; average tax impact is $53/year for 20 years.
Questions 2 and 3 are separate; one can pass without the other. But Question 1 (the operating levy) must pass for either 2 or 3 to pass. The average tax increase for all three questions in Kimball (based on average property value of $120,000) would be about $10/month.
A few things to understand about school tax levies
Unlike most other government entities, school districts must get voter approval to raise taxes for building projects and operating levies.
Our schools are the biggest investments in our communities. Continued investment, to maintain the buildings and programs, and to improve them when needed, is our right and our obligation.
The Kimball Area Chamber of Commerce voted to support the school moving forward. As a business community, they recognize the vital impact the school has on our community.
Operating levies are in place and/or sought by 53 Minnesota school districts. Their purpose is to make up the difference between what a district needs to operate, and what the state provides.
Many school districts (including Kimball) are forced to borrow money to make up delayed state reimbursements. The interest on this borrowing costs about the same as a teacher salary each year. Increased enrollment will reduce this need to borrow.
Sixty-eight other Minnesota school districts have bond levies up for a vote next month. These are for repairs, improvements, or new construction on school buildings, technology updates, swimming pools, performing arts centers, track, athletic park, and they range up to $180 million.
Why build now? Costs will only increase. Now is the time to build, while programs are still healthy, and while enrollment can still be increased. Having better facilities will only enhance the ability to attract more students (which equals more state funding), and will benefit the whole community.
State funding of schools benefit metro schools the most. Rural schools usually get the short end of the stick. This is partly because metro cities and suburbs have a larger tax base: more and bigger businesses to help offset the tax burden from residents. State policies also allow for metro schools to get more state funding, and spend more money in ways that smaller rural districts cannot.
Our school districts, and the school boards that control them, work very hard year after year to be good stewards of our tax dollars. Most of you know at least one school board member, and you know their integrity and their passion for our students and schools. Each decision they make is made carefully, and sometimes painfully. They are our elected stewards of this critical investment, and can be trusted with their recommendation to pass these levies.
Your vote does count! You may think it?Äôs a slam-dunk that the levy in your district will pass (or not pass). But don?Äôt be complacent. If you?Äôre strongly for or against it, your opinion won?Äôt count unless you actually vote. Voter turnout also can be used as an indicator of support for the schools, our students, and our communities. The more people who turn out to vote, the greater the support.
The bottom line is that we all want to support our schools. We want our students ?Äì who literally are our future ?Äì to be well trained and prepared to go out into the world.
Information is still available at both district offices on their respective levies. Both districts have had informational meetings, and have been open to questions from taxpayers. They still are. If you haven?Äôt yet checked on your tax impact, or still have questions, start with your district website, and/or contact your district office.
Kimball: www.kimball.k12.mn.us; (320) 398-5455; jim.
wagner@kimball.k12.mn.us
EV-W: www.evw-k12.mn.us; (320) 453-2900 x1143; mmessman
@eagles.evw.k12.mn.us
Personal note: As both a homeowner and business owner in the Kimball school district, I checked my tax impact (on the school website). Passing all three questions for Kimball, I can expect to pay about $12/month more on my home property taxes. I expect that much of an increase for my commercial property, for a total of $25/month. I look forward to attending plays and concerts, piano recitals, and even community meetings in a comfortable, permanent auditorium rather than on bleachers in the gym or in the cafetorium. The auditorium will be a tremendous asset to the Kimball community (and beyond). I will happily vote for all three questions Nov. 3. Won?Äôt you join me?