Minnesota Schools Have 43 Operating, 35 Bonding Requests on Election Ballot

Many Minnesotans are being asked to vote on additional operating dollars and building requests during Tuesday's General Election.  Faribault Public Schools have two questions on the ballot.  Both are operating requests which means farmland is not included.  On farms that are homestead properties the home and one acre is used for assessing taxes.

Faribault is asking for 221 additional dollars per pupil unit per year over 10 years to expand the high school schedule to a seven period day.  The second question on the ballot for Faribault Public School District voters is a request for 115 dollars per pupil unit per year over 10 years to reduce the radius for bus service for high school students to 1 mile from the present two miles. Bethlehem Academy students would also be included.

There are four polling places for this election.  The Washington Community Center. Dean Curtis 4-H Building on the Rice County Fairgrounds, Our Saviors Lutheran Church and Buckham West.  Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Kenyon-Wanamingo also has two questions on their ballot with voting at Kenyon City Hall and the Wanamingo Community Center.  K-W is requesting replacement of an existing $268 operating referendum with $460 per pupil unit per year over a five year period.  Question two is for $300 per pupil unit per year for 5 years.

Question 2 cannot pass if Question 1 fails.

Other schools in the area also are making operating referendum requests.

• Lakeville is requesting $345 per pupil unit per year for 10 years
• Burnsville-Eagan-Savage $385 per pupil unit per year for 10 years
• Rosemount- Apple Valley-Eagan $627 per pupil unit per year for 10 years
• Triton $750 per pupil unit per year for 10 years

There are 35 bonding requests across the state.  This is for bricks and mortar.

• Lakeville is asking for $42.9 million dollars for gym addition, new pool, turf practice fields, security and IT upgrades.
• Owatonna a new high school $104 million dollars.  Last May a request for $116 million dollars failed by 116 votes.
• Rochester is requesting $171 million dollars for new schools and safety needs and a second questions asks for $9.5 million dollars for new pools.
• Zumbrota-Mazeppa has three questions on their ballot tomorrow after a single request last May failed by 76 votes.  Question one is for safety, heating, classroom additions, renovations and infrastructure.  Cost $38 million 585 thousand dollars.  Question 2 asks for $3 million 350 thousand dollars to convert the old Mazeppa gym into a school cafeteria.  Question 3 is $4 million 945 thousand dollars for a Zumbrota gym, track improvements, baseball field renovations and safety.  Last May the single request was for $49 million 950 thousand dollars.

We will have results tomorrow evening as soon as we get them and will post them on our websites.