LEVY INFORMATION
The Cannon Falls Area School District is experiencing challenges with our operating budget. Like many school districts across the state and country, the District needs the support of local citizens to maintain the high-quality learning environment residents have come to expect.
On November 5, Cannon Falls Area School District voters will be asked to support an additional $750 per pupil operating levy.
The additional operational funding is to balance the budget and allow the District to:
Retain exisiting staff
Maintain programs and services for students
Ensure class sizes are conducive to learning
Maintain District facilities and equipment
The District has worked hard to be good stewards of taxpayers' dollars. Over the past 6 years, the District has already reduced expenses. They have:
Aligned teaching and support staff positions to enrollment
Increased class sizes
Reduced department and building budgets
Delayed maintenance projects and facility updates
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
To learn more about the District's budget challenges and proposed operating levy, attend one of the following informational meetings:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
5:30-6:30 P.M.
Auditorium | 820 East Minnesota Street, Cannon Falls
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2
12:00- 1:00 P.M.
District Board Room (Please enter through Door #1) | 820 East Minnesota Street, Cannon Falls
MONDAY, OCTOBER 14
5:30- 6:30 P.M.
Auditorium | 820 East Minnesota Street, Cannon Falls
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS NEEDED
An increase in the operating levy is critical to balancing the District's budget. If unsuccessful, the District will need to make reductions by:
Increasing class sizes
Reducing student services and academic programs
Eliminating elective courses (business, fine arts, etc.) and Advance Placement (AP) opportunities
Reducing athletic, fine arts, and co-curricular offerings
Increasing fees to participate in athletics, fine arts, and clubs
Reducing staff
Reducing transportation services
Delaying maintenance projects
An operating levy is the primary way school districts can increase funding for day-to-day operations.
WHY THE FUNDING CHALLENGE?
The state funding formula, which provides school districts the majority of their funding, has not kept pace with inflation for the past 20 years, challenging school districts to do more with less. School Districts in Minnesota receive 18.6% less per student than they did in 2004. As a result, school districts are required to turn their local community to address this deficit.
Mandates Without Funding
The State has added multiple mandates including: additional course requirements, paid Family Medical Leave, unemployment, discipline requirements, and mandated teacher training. All of these requirements cost additional money that the District needs to reallocate from our already strained budget.
WHAT WILL THE OPERATING LEVY COST ME?
The below chart represents the estimated tax increase for various property value.
NOTE: Agricultural property will pay taxes for the proposed referendum based only on the value of the house, garage, and once acre. Seasonal recreational residential property (i.e., cabins) will pay no taxes for the proposed referendum.
