East Grand Forks isn't the only school district asking residents to increase taxes.
The Bemidji, Lake of the Woods, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, Norman County East and Red Lake Falls districts also will ask voters Tuesday to approve levy referendums.
Bemidji Public Schools' existing levy is scheduled to expire next school year. Without additional funding, the district won't be able to offer all-day, everyday kindergarten and class sizes will increase, according to Superintendent Jim Hess.
Renewing the levy would pay for all-day, everyday kindergarten, buying new buses and class-size reductions, according to Hess. An optional increase above that amount would pay for staff, technology and equipment, textbook replacement and school safety improvements.
About two-thirds of the funding from the levy would come from local taxpayers and one-third would come from the state.
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Lake of the Woods
The Lake of the Woods School District is trying to pass a levy referendum for the second straight year. Last fall's referendum failed by 96 votes.
School officials say the levy increase would pay to prevent cutting staff and Advanced Placement, art and language classes. It then would possibly pay to reinstate an elementary physical-education teacher, implement all-day, everyday kindergarten, add a second foreign language, adequately support athletic programs, invest in technology and maintain facilities, according to Superintendent Steve Wymore.
The district will ask voters to approve the same referendum amount as last year. About 45 percent of the funds would come from the state.
D-G-FDilworth-Glyndon-Felton faces more deficit spending if voters defeat a levy referendum, according to school officials.
Last spring, the School Board cut several positions and programs, including cheerleading and cross-country, to address its deficit. The levy increase would be used to maintain staff and programs, officials say.
About two-thirds of the money raised would come from the state.
Norman County East
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Norman County East will ask voters to approve a tax increase, but even if it passes, the district will still need to cut about $170,000 from its budget, according to Superintendent Dean Krogstad.
Last year, the School Board cut seven district positions. Without additional dollars, more staff will be cut and class sizes will increase, he said.
Norman County East's current levy referendum is set to expire, in part, this year, in 2009 and 2012, according to Krogstad.
The money raised by the tax increase would go toward maintaining staff and programs, Krogstad said.
Red Lake FallsRed Lake Falls will ask voters to approve a tax increase to help pay for basic costs such as replacing buses, vans and repairing the bus garage, according to Superintendent Joel Young.
About 60 percent would come from the state. The district's current levy is scheduled to expire in a year.
Ricker covers elementary and secondary education. Reach Ricker at (701) 780-1104, (800) 477-6572, ext. 104; or aricker@gfherald.com .
