Voters Guide To Stillwater Area Schools Ballot Questions

STILLWATER, MN — October is coming to an end, which means Election Day is just around the corner.

Residents of the Stillwater Area Public Schools district are being tasked with deciding whether to authorize new operating and capital-projects levies.

The first ballot question asks voters to increase the district's operating levy by replacing an expiring levy with one that district officials say would generate $2.7 million annually over the next 10 years.

Property taxes would increase $77 per year on a home worth $350,000 if the new operating levy is approved, according to a tax impact chart on the district's website.

The second ballot question asks voters to increase the district's capital-projects levy to fund new classroom technology and infrastructure. The new levy would generate about $4.7 million per year over the next 10 years, according to the district.

Approval of the new capital-projects levy would increase taxes by about $138 annually on a $350,000 home, the district's tax-impact chart shows.

Officials have said the district would lose up to $12 million in annual funding and face significant staffing and program cuts if voters do not approve the new operating levy.

Officials said they plan to reduce other tax levies payable in 2022 if both levies are passed to offset a portion of the tax increases.

Here are the two questions that Stillwater voters will see on their ballots:

Question 1 — The board of Independent School District No. 834 (Stillwater Area Public Schools) has proposed to increase its general education revenue by $1,697.55 per pupil. A portion of this proposed new authority would replace the existing referendum revenue authorization of $1,307.55 per pupil which is scheduled to expire after taxes payable in 2021. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would increase each year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for ten years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law. Shall the increase in the revenue proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 834 be approved?

Question 2 — The board of Independent School District No. 834 (Stillwater Area Public Schools) has proposed a capital project levy authorization in the amount of 4.001% times the net tax capacity of the school district. The proposed authorization will raise approximately $4,700,00 for taxes payable in 2022, the first year it is to be levied, and would be authorized for ten (10) years. The estimated total cost of the projects to be funded by the proposed capital project levy authorization during that time period is approximately $47,000,000. The additional revenue from the proposed capital project levy authorization will provide funds for the acquisition, installation, replacement, support and maintenance of software, software licenses, computers, improved technology equipment, networks, infrastructure, and the costs of technology related personnel and training. If School District Question 1 is approved, shall the capital project levy proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 834 be approved?

Residents can find more information about the proposed levy here.

How To Vote

Residents can vote early in person at the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater.

Early voting will be available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Minnesota has same-day voter registration, which means you can register to vote at your polling place on Election Day.

Click here for a list of polling locations in the Stillwater Area Public Schools district.

Mail-in ballots will not count if they are received after Election Day. The suggested deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot was Oct. 19.