ST. PAUL, Minn. – Around 70 school districts, including Moorhead Area Public Schools, are asking Minnesota voters to approve ballot questions in Tuesday’s elections.
Kirk Schneidawind of the Minnesota School Boards Association says there are a total of 96 ballot questions around the state. He says 30 of them are building bonds, 22 will be capital improvement, and 44 operating levy requests.
The referendums are asking for a total of $1.6 billion. Schneidawind says there are about 21 school board races and a handful of special elections.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for voters to decide on Moorhead’s levy referendum. Polling places include St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Cullen Hockey Center, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and Bethesda Lutheran Church.
Moorhead Superintendent Brandon Lunak says the two-question referendum is designed to stabilize the district’s budget and invest in critical operational and capital needs.
Question One proposes an operating levy to generate $4.37 million each year ($575 per pupil) for 10 years to fund day-to-day operations, including teacher and staff salaries, supplies, programs, utilities and maintenance. Question Two proposes a capital projects levy to generate $1.5 million annually for 10 years, supporting educational equipment and tools, transportation and facility needs.
Together, the two levies would generate $5.87 million per year. For the owner of a $250,000 home, approval of question one would result in an estimated property tax increase of $18.91 per month and approval of question two would result in an estimated property tax increase of $4.83 per month beginning in 2026.
Tuesday’s election also has voters in two districts deciding control of the Minnesota Senate. Democratic State Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen Jaeger of Woodbury is facing Republican Dwight Dorau for the District 47 seat of former Sen. Nicole Mitchell.
In Senate District 29, the seat is open following the death of Republican Bruce Anderson of Buffalo. Republican candidate Michael Holmstrom, Junior faces Democratic hopeful Louis McNutt. Democrats currently hold a one-vote advantage in the Minnesota Senate.
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