Schools

Northfield School District Levies Pass With Ease

Voters on Tuesday rescinded Northfield School District's current $1,270 per-pupil operating levy and approved a new 10-year levy, raising the per-pupil levy to $1,604.

UPDATE: 1:05 a.m.

Voters on Tuesday rescinded current $1,270 per-pupil operating levy and approved a new 10-year levy, raising the per-pupil levy to $1,604.

The measure passed with 59.9 percent of the vote, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office. A total of 3,497 people voted in favor of the levy increase; 2,343 voted against it.

Find out what's happening in Northfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Under the new operating levy, which is used to pay for day-to-day expenses of running a school district, like salaries and supplies, residents owning residential and commercial property will see the school portion of their property taxes increase by about $73 for every $100,000 of the taxable market value of their property, according to the district. For example, a resident with property valued at $150,000 will see a $110 annual increase. A resident with property valued at $250,000 will see a $182 jump.

The levy increase will show up on property tax bills in May 2012.

Find out what's happening in Northfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Voters also approved a 10-year renewal of the district’s $750,000-per-year capital projects levy. That levy pays for such expenses as building upkeep and new textbooks. That measure passed with 62.8 percent of the vote, or 3,660 of the 5,826 votes.

Question 1—Whether to rescind its current $1,270 per-pupil operating levy—approved in 2006 and set to expire following the 2013-14 school year—and replace it now with one that’s $334 more per student. Proceeds from the operating levy pay for day-to-day expenses of running a school district, like salaries and supplies.

Question 2—Whether to renew the district’s current $750,000-per-year capital projects levy—also approved in 2006 and set to expire following the 2013-14 school year—for another 10 years. That levy pays for such expenses as building upkeep and new textbooks.

VOTE BREAKDOWN

Question 1 Yes No % Yes
453
290
61

946 367
72

672
725
48.1

732
456
61.6

694
505
57.9
Total 3,497
2,343
59.9
Question 2
Yes No % Yes Bethel Lutheran Church
481
258
65.1
First United Church of Christ
983
328
75
Northfield Community Resource Center
724
667
52
St. John's Lutheran Church
747
439
63
United Methodist Church
725
474
60.5
Total 3,660
2,166
62.8

Locations listed were the polling places for this special election.


Most of the focus of the district’s levy campaign has been placed on the operating levy.

officials said that without approval of the $1,604 per-student levy—thus, without more dollars from district taxpayers—the focus of education in Northfield would change dramatically. For instance, fewer advanced and elective classes would have been offered, and co-curricular programs and activities could have been cut or face large student-fee increases if the current levy expired and a new levy had not been approved.

In 2006, more than 11,000 votes were tallied for each question, with 55 percent of people voting yes for the operating levy and 52 percent of people voting yes for the capital projects levy.

Nearly 20,000 people voted in the school board race that year to elect three new members. That year was also an election year for Minnesota's governor and a Minnesota senator.

_______________________

UPDATE: 12:10 a.m.

With four of five precincts reporting, both measures are passing, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office and Northfield News. Question 1 is passing with 59.4 percent of the vote. Question 2 is passing with 62.8 percent of the vote. More than 4,600 votes have been counted.

It appears both measures are on their way to being approved.

Voters in the on Tuesday voted on :

Question 1—Whether to rescind its current $1,270 per-pupil operating levy—approved in 2006 and set to expire following the 2013-14 school year—and replace it now with one that’s $334 more per student. Proceeds from the operating levy pay for day-to-day expenses of running a school district, like salaries and supplies.

Question 2—Whether to renew the district’s current $750,000-per-year capital projects levy—also approved in 2006 and set to expire following the 2013-14 school year—for another 10 years. That levy pays for such expenses as building upkeep and new textbooks.

VOTE BREAKDOWN

Question 1 Yes No % Yes +
453
290
61
*
946 367
72
*
672
725
48.1





694
505
57.9
Total 2,765
1,887
59.4
Question 2
Yes No % Yes Bethel Lutheran Church+
481
258
65.1
First United Church of Christ*
983
328
75
Northfield Community Resource Center*
724
667
52
St. John's Lutheran Church



United Methodist Church*
725
474
60.5
Total 2,913
1,727
62.8

Locations listed were the polling places for this special election.
+ According to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office
* According to the Northfield News


Most of the focus of the district’s levy campaign has been placed on the operating levy.

officials say that without approval of the $1,604 per-student levy—thus, without more dollars from district taxpayers—the focus of education in Northfield could change dramatically. For instance, fewer advanced and elective classes would be offered, and co-curricular programs and activities could be cut or face large student-fee increases if the current levy expires and a new levy is not approved.

In 2006, more than 11,000 votes were tallied for each question, with 55 percent of people voting yes for the operating levy and 52 percent of people voting yes for the capital projects levy.

Nearly 20,000 people voted in the school board race that year to elect three new members. That year was also an election year for Minnesota's governor and a Minnesota senator.

______________________

UPDATE: 11:48 p.m.

With three of five precincts reporting, both measures are passing, according to the according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office and Northfield News. Question 1 is passing with 54.5 percent of the vote. Question 2 is passing with 58 percent of the vote.

Read more about what's at stake and see results below.

______________________

UPDATE: 11:30 p.m.

With two of five precincts reporting, both measures are passing, according to the according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office and Northfield News. Question 1 is passing with 59 percent of the vote. Question 2 is passing with 62 percent of the vote.

Read more about what's at stake and see results below.

______________________

UPDATE: 10:50 p.m.

With one on five precincts reporting, both measures are passing, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office.

Read more about what's at stake and see results below.

______________________

UPDATE: It's 10:10 p.m. We're still waiting for results to come. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: As of 9:10 p.m., Northfield's results are still unavailable. We'll be sure to post them as soon as they become available.

______________________

Voters in the on Tuesday voted on :

Question 1—Whether to rescind its current $1,270 per-pupil operating levy—approved in 2006 and set to expire following the 2013-14 school year—and replace it now with one that’s $334 more per student. Proceeds from the operating levy pay for day-to-day expenses of running a school district, like salaries and supplies.

Question 2—Whether to renew the district’s current $750,000-per-year capital projects levy—also approved in 2006 and set to expire following the 2013-14 school year—for another 10 years. That levy pays for such expenses as building upkeep and new textbooks.

Most of the focus of the district’s levy campaign has been placed on the operating levy.

officials say that without approval of the $1,604 per-student levy—thus, without more dollars from district taxpayers—the focus of education in Northfield could change dramatically. For instance, fewer advanced and elective classes would be offered, and co-curricular programs and activities could be cut or face large student-fee increases if the current levy expires and a new levy is not approved.

In 2006, more than 11,000 votes were tallied for each question, with 55 percent of people voting yes for the operating levy and 52 percent of people voting yes for the capital projects levy.

Nearly 20,000 people voted in the school board race that year to elect three new members. That year was also an election year for Minnesota's governor and a Minnesota senator.

 

Question 1 Yes No % Yes +
453
290
61
*
946 367
72
*
672
725
48.1





694
505
57.9
Total 2,765
1,887
59.4
Question 2
Yes No % Yes Bethel Lutheran Church+
481
258
65.1
First United Church of Christ*
983
328
75
Northfield Community Resource Center*
724
667
52
St. John's Lutheran Church



United Methodist Church*
725
474
60.5
Total 2,913
1,727
62.8

Locations listed were the polling places for this special election.
+ According to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office
* According to the Northfield News


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Northfield