SLP School Board Asking Voters for More than $17M in Tax Levies

St. Louis Park voters will be asked this fall to vote for three tax hikes to fund the school district’s needs for updated technology, expanded classroom space and general funding.

The school board approved three questions to put to voters in the November election during its Aug. 12 meeting.

The district is looking to raise $14.9 million for capital repairs and improvements to buildings and for additional all-day kindergarten classroom space at Aquila,Susan Lindgren and Peter Hobart elementaries.

Additionally, a 15-year technology levy is set to expire in spring 2015, and the district will ask voters to renew the levy, which funds, infrastructure, equipment and staff, at the cost of roughly $1.75 million per year for the next 15 years.

And an operating referendum seeks to bring in $245.81 per pupil, at a total cost to taxpayers of around $1.1 million.

In total, the tax impact for the owner of a $200,000 home will be about $82 per year, should all three be approved, though the remortgaging of existing school bonds will reduce St. Louis Park residents’ taxes by about $18.

“In each of these three areas, what we’re really talking about is positioning our school district for 21st century education,” school board member Nancy Gores said.

Here’s a look at the questions that will be on St. Louis Park voters’ ballots in November:

NO. 1: REVOKING EXISTING CAPITAL PROJECT LEVY AUTHORIZATION: APPROVING NEW AUTHORIZATION

The school board of Independent School District No. 283 (St. Louis Park)  has proposed to revoke its existing adjusted capital project levy of 2.988% times the net tax capacity of the school district and to replace that authorization with a new authorization of 3.812% times the net tax capacity of the school district.

The proposed new authorization will raise approximately $1,750,000 for taxes payable in 2014, the first year it is to be levied and would be applicable for ten years. The estimated total cost of the projects to be funded over that time period is approximately $17,500,000.

The money raised by the proposed authorization will be used to provide funding for the acquisition, installation, support and maintenance of software, technology, and technology systems and infrastructure. The projects to be funded by the proposed authorization have received a positive review and comment from the Commissioner of Education.

Shall the school district’s existing adjusted capital project levy be revoked and the new capital project levy authorization proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 283 be approved?

NO. 2: APPROVAL OF SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND ISSUE

Shall the school board of Independent School District No. 283 (St. Louis Park) be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $14,900,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction and equipping of additions and improvements to the Peter Hobart, Aquila, and Susan Lindgren Elementary School facilities and the completion of various deferred maintenance projects at all school-district sites and facilities?

NO. 3 APPROVAL OF SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM REVENUE AUTHORIZATION

The school board of Independent School District No. 283 (St. Louis Park) has proposed to increase its general education revenue by $245.81 per pupil. The school district’s actual referendum revenue for any year shall not exceed the statutory maximum for that year. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would increase each year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for ten years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.