In comparison to 28 other metro school districts, our district ranks second-to-last in voter-approved operating levies*:
| 1. St. Louis Park | $1782 | 15. Rosemount | $1181 | |
| 2. Hopkins | $1743 | 16. Minneapolis | $1125 | |
| 3. Roseville | $1717 | 17. Inver Grove Heights | $1119 | |
| 4. Moundsview | $1640 | 18. Burnsville | $1104 | |
| 5. Wayzata | $1624 | 19. Robbinsdale | $1095 | |
| 6. Minnetonka | $1583 | 20. Spring Lake Park | $1083 | |
| 7. Edina | $1539 | 21. North St. Paul | $1082 | |
| 8. Eden Prairie | $1439 | 22. St. Anthony | $1075 | |
| 9. Orono | $1437 | 23. Fridley | $1028 | |
| 10. Richfield | $1358 | 24. South St. Paul | $940 | |
| 11. Bloomington | $1284 | 25. Shakopee | $816 | |
| 12. West St. Paul | $1230 | 26. St. Paul | $807 | |
| 13 Chaska | $1215 | 27. Elk River | $694 | |
| 14. Mahtomedi | $1213 | 28. Brooklyn Center | $440 |
* VOTER-APPROVED OPERATING LEVY DOLLARS PER STUDENT Data from Minnesota Department of Education; Association of Metropolitan School Districts
| Addition to Community | Investment | Doors Open |
| New Zimmerman High School | $51 million | Fall 2010 |
| New Otsego K-8 | $32 million | Fall 2010 |
| 3rd Wing and New Community Theater at RHS | $23 million | Fall 2009/10 |
| New Gym and 10 New Classrooms at ERHS | $13 million | Fall 2009 |
Other: Reduced Class Sizes, Middle School Activities Restored, Academic Opportunities Improved, Early Childhood Programs Enhanced |
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Daily cost for this education investment per household*: $1.50 (Based on $250K average home value)
Click here to access the Tax Calculator.
Demonstrating Financial Discipline
Financial accountability is a priority in our school district. New processes to ensure fiscal transparency, accuracy, and reliability have been instituted into our dramatically-restructured district organization.
That’s why we’ve hired new personnel to ensure financial integrity. And why we’re creating a citizen’s finance oversight committee. It’s our responsibility to make sure your educational investment is managed effectively and efficiently.
Bond and Levy Investments Over Time
The current referendum plan calls for keeping bond and levy costs constant throughout the life of each investment. Past referendums have been “back-loaded,” meaning referendum investments were lighter at passage, and grew heavier over time.
Click here for a detailed bar graph showing the life-cycle of all bonds and levies still current in our district.
