Proposed Solution

New Ulm Public Schools is asking voters to consider a one-question operating levy referendum renewal on the Nov. 8 ballot.

You spoke and we listened.
Last year’s tax increase was not approved, so our request this year is to maintain what we have now.

We are asking you to renew the operating levy you approved in 2012.

• Renewing the levy won’t cost taxpayers one dime more.
• Renewing the existing question will allow the district to continue to raise $779 per pupil, or a total of $1.8 million annually.
• If the referendum is not approved, the district will have a $1.8 million hole to fill by dipping into its savings account and making budget reductions. 

Referendum dollars are spent on staff and student programs
Over the life of the last 10-year operating levy referendum, levy dollars were used to maintain low class sizes. maintain current programs for college prep and technical education, and to provide student technology and infrastructure. We’re proposing to continue this investment for the next 10-year operating levy.

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Maintain low class sizes - 40%
Our relatively low class sizes are a result of our ability to hire enough teachers to decrease the number of students in each class room. In addition, referendum dollars approved in 2012 allowed us to maintain programs brought in over the past 10 years after years of budget reductions in the 2000s.

• Continued resources federal and state requirements not fully funded.
• Continue support of college prep courses and career readiness courses.
• Maintain technology infrastructure, technology instruction and student use of appropriate technology.
• Provide additional Career and Technical education programs at the middle and high school levels – increasing student opportunities.
• Support community focus on workforce development by providing students with workforce ready skills

Provide student technology and infrastructure - 20%
Technology is used every day by nearly all of us in Minnesota. The business world requires students to have an understanding of how to use technology to do their jobs. Levy dollars help us maintain technology infrastructure, provide technology instruction, and provide students with the appropriate technology to complete assignments.

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Maintain current programs for college prep and technical education - 40%

• Continue support of college prep courses and career readiness courses.
• Provide additional Career and Technical education programs at the middle and high school levels – increasing student opportunities.
• Support community focus on workforce development by providing students with workforce ready skills

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What if the referendum is not renewed? 
The district will have a $1.8 million hole to fill and will need to pull from its savings account and make budget reductions. No decisions have been made by the school board as to where the budget would be reduced. It’s likely that cuts would be spread across many departments, student programs and activities. For illustration purposes, $1.8 million is equal to 24 teachers.