Austin School Board approves request for special election for operating levy referendum in November

The Austin School Board unanimously approved a request at their regular monthly meeting Monday for a special election for an operating levy referendum in November.  KAUS News spoke with Lori Volz, the Executive Director of Finance and Operations for the Austin School District who stated that one of the main reasons for the request is the plateauing of student enrollment in the district….

Volz also stated that another main reason for the request is that the State of Minnesota’s education funding formula is not keeping up with inflation…

Volz went on to talk about the financial impact the levy increase, if approved, would have on residents of the district…..

According to district numbers, should the referendum pass, revenue for the district will increase by $2.8 million and will break down to 49 percent in state aid and 51 percent in local levy.  It is the first time the Austin School District has requested an operating levy since 2003, when voters approved the renewal of a $1 million operating levy.