On November 5, school district residents will vote on an operating levy proposal that will revoke the current referendum revenue authorization and replace it with a new one.
The ballot explains that passage of the referendum will result in an increase in your property taxes, as follows: “PASSAGE OF THIS REFERENDUM WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.” On October 28, the district learned that while this language is allowable under Minn. Stat., Sec. 126C.17, subd.9(b) in the legal notice that was mailed to the community, the ballot itself must follow similar but not identical language under Minn. Stat., Sec. 275.60 with the following language appearing in capitalized, boldface type, “BY VOTING "YES" ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.”
While the current ballot contains the legal notice language and not the required ballot language, the message remains consistent: a 'Yes' vote on this referendum proposal will result in a property tax increase. We appreciate your understanding. For information about the levy proposal, visit www.plsas.org/referendum.