INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 196
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools
Educating our students to reach their full potential
What would the local schools levy provide?
In August, the District 196 School Board approved a resolution calling for a local
schools levy referendum question on the November 2, 2010 General Election ballot.
The School Board is presenting the referendum as a local option to reduce, or
possibly eliminate, the need for additional budget cuts next year, depending on
critical state funding decisions that won’t be made until spring 2011.
It is projected the state will be facing a nearly $6 billion deficit when the Legislature
convenes in January. Six billion dollars represents 18 percent of the total state
budget; education spending represents 40 percent of the state budget.
Given these numbers, the district is anticipating a 7 percent cut in state funding for education, which would translate to
the need for another $23 million in budget adjustments (a combination of cuts and new revenue) for the district next year.
These would be in addition to the $25 million in adjustments made in the last two budgets.
ADDITIONAL LOCAL REVENUE
• I f approved, the local schools levy referendum would generate additional local property taxes of
$512 per pupil, totaling approximately $15 million per year, for 10 years.
• L
ocal property taxes currently account for 20 percent of the total general fund revenues District 196 receives; the state
provides 73 percent, federal aid 3 percent and 4 percent from other sources such as grants and donations. The trend over
the past decade has been an increase in the percentage from local property taxes and a decrease in the percentage from
state aids and credits.
• T
he proposed levy question for $512 per pupil would bring District 196 to the maximum amount allowed by state law,
at $1,554 per pupil. More than 90 percent of Minnesota school districts have at least one voter-approved levy in place
and 28 are already at the state cap, including metro districts Mounds View, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Edina, St. Louis
Park, Hopkins, Orono and Bloomington.
FEWER STAFF AND PROGRAM CUTS NEXT YEAR
• I f approved, the additional revenue from the local schools levy would be used to avoid $15 million of budget cuts
that may otherwise be needed with anticipated cuts to state funding.
• A
7 percent cut in state funding (the district’s budget assumption) would require an additional $23 million in budget
adjustments for the 2011-12 school year. The first $5 million in adjustments will come from the district’s share of the
one-time education jobs fund dollars recently approved by the federal government (see back for more information).
That would leave another $18 million in needed adjustments. Without the federal jobs funding or additional local
revenue, budget adjustments next year would require:

Elimination of more than 200 additional jobs, including another increase of at least 2.5 to the classroom teacher
staffing ratio;

More reductions to most academic support, arts and athletic programs, and elimination of some, and

Reduced transportation service for students at all levels.
• L
ast March, the board approved budget adjustments totaling $15 million for the current 2010-11 school year. These
adjustments included:

Elimination of 144 jobs, including an increase of 2.0 to the classroom teacher staffing ratio;

Reductions to many academic support programs, and

Higher participation fees and elimination of transportation for after-school activities at all levels.
- continued on back -
Local schools levy FAQs
How does the federal education jobs funding help District 196?
District 196 is eligible to receive up to $5 million in education jobs funding that
is being made available by the federal government. These one-time funds, which
districts will receive as reimbursements, can be requested through September
2012. Our district is planning to request these funds in the 2011-12 school year
to retain (for one year) approximately 75 jobs that would otherwise need to be
eliminated. This will reduce our district’s anticipated budget gap by $5 million.
While the district is thankful to be eligible for these one-time funds, they do not
solve the need for predictable and sustainable funding for education, nor do they
eliminate the need for a local schools levy referendum question on the November 2 ballot.
How much would the local schools levy cost property owners in District 196?
The table below shows estimated taxes payable in 2011 for the proposed levy only. To get an estimate for a specific
property, use the tax impact calculator at www.district196.org/vote. The average-value home in District 196 has a taxable
market value of $238,500. The tax impact of the proposed levy on the average-value home is estimated to be no more than
$280 per year or $5.38 per week.
Taxable Market Value
of Property
$50,000
75,000
100,000
125,000
150,000
175,000
200,000
225,000
238,500 (district avg.)
250,000
Estimated Annual Taxes
for Proposed Levy
$59
88
117
147
176
206
235
264
280
294
Taxable Market Value
of Property
$275,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
500,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
2,000,000
Estimated Annual Taxes
for Proposed Levy
$323
352
411
470
529
587
705
940
1,175
2,349
The figures in the table apply to residential homesteads, apartments and commercial/industrial property. Agricultural property
owners would pay taxes based only on the value of the house, garage and one acre.
What is the district doing differently to save money?
In addition to the $25 million in budget adjustments approved by the School Board in the last two budgets, the district
and all district schools have been reviewing processes for ways to do things differently that can save money and increase
efficiency. Some examples include the following:
• S
aved more than $1 million in energy costs during the district’s first two years participating in the Schools for Energy
Efficiency program, which involves all schools;
• E
stablishing a new middle school model to increase student achievement at the same or lower cost than the current
model;
• E
stablished a new South Suburban Conference to reduce time and cost of travel to Lake Conference schools in the
western suburbs;
• E
liminated three sports from the middle school program and turned over operation of these sports to the local athletic
associations, and
• Implemented shared building chief staffing at three combination middle school/elementary school sites.
For more information, go to www.district196.org/vote or call 651-423-7811
Prepared and paid for by Independent School District 196 (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools), 3455 153rd St. W.,
Rosemount, MN 55068. This publication is not circulated on behalf of any candidate or ballot question. (September 2010)