Southland Public Schools Public Meetings Operating Levy Information October 13, :30 PM-Rose Creek Elementary School October 19, :30 PM-Adams MS/HS October 21, :00PM – Dexter Fire Hall Jeff Sampson, Superintendent of Schools

Southland Public Schools is Asking District Voters to Revoke Our Current Operating Levy and Replace With a New Operating Levy The Southland School District is running an “excess levy referendum” this fall. If district voters vote to pass this referendum, they will be electing to revoke the current $ per pupil levy and replace it with a $1,550 per pupil levy. This is NOT a bond referendum. Revoke and Replace language meaning

What is an Operating Levy Referendum? It is an election question, voted on by residents to authorize a school district to assess an additional tax levy to generate additional revenues to support the operations and programs of the school district. The authorization for this additional tax revenue must be approved by local voters. Revenue is provided through a combination of local property tax levies and for some districts, state aid.

Referendum Trends in Minnesota Districts are relying more heavily each year on operating referendum revenue to fund basic educational programs. The number of Districts that have an operating referendum in place is increasing annually. Close to 90% of Minnesota School Districts receive operating referendum revenue. Underfunding by the state has been the main factor in districts asking for excess levies – Southland has also had a large enrollment decrease over the past 8 years

Southland’s Current Status We cut $470,000 out of our budget last year We have $1.1 million in our general fund or savings We are currently deficit spending $270,000 If the vote passes, we will not get new money until January of Our general fund balance will be near $500,000 at that point and we will need that as cash flow to run the school’s business operations.

The Impact on Your Taxes Passing the levy will increase your taxes. For an operating levy, there are no referendum taxes on seasonal recreational property and on agricultural land the taxes only apply to the house, garage, and one acre of land. The table to the right illustrates the tax impact for typical residential homesteads, apartments, commercial- industrial properties, and most other classes of property within the School District. If the levy is passed, the referendum market value for Agriculture Land other than the house and one acre and for seasonal recreational property is $0. Type of Property Estimated Market Value Estimated Taxes for Referendum Levy Only Revoked Authority Proposed Authority Net Change $387.44$1, Tax Increase Residential Homesteads, Apartments, and Commercial- Industrial Property $100,000-$47$309$ , , , , , , , , , , ,2361, , ,3911, , ,5451, , ,8551, , ,1641, , ,4732, , ,7822,363 1,000, ,0912,626 1,250, ,8643,283 1,500, ,6363,938 2,000, ,1825,252

Impact on School District’s Budget If the referendum is not passed, we will need to reduce expenditures. This will impact people, programs, and facilities. If the referendum is passed, we will be able to keep current programming in place for the foreseeable future.

Voting The election will be held on November 3, 2015 from 7am until 8pm The only polling place will be in Adams at the MS/HS gym. For more information on the election check our website at: Absentee ballots can be obtained by calling the Mower County Government center at Absentee ballots applications and voter registration applications can be obtained in the district office and in the Rose Creek office.

Ballot

Questions Jeff Sampson, Superintendent of Schools

Thank you for coming to tonight’s presentation. Thank you for supporting our students.