Operating levy

referendum
Volunteer information
August 2021
Agenda
› Introductions
› Levy background
› Levy proposal
› District comparison
› FAQs
› Potential outcomes
› Survey information
› Vote Yes strategy
› Questions?
Introductions
› Name
› What is your connection to the district?
› Why is it important to you to support the campaign?
Background
› 80 percent of
our district’s
funding comes
from the state,
but state
funding has
not kept pace
with inflation
or operating
costs.
Background
› As a result, almost all districts in Minnesota depend on
voter-approved operating levies for adequate funding

› Operating levies cover the expenses of running the schools,

including salaries, utilities, supplies and technology

› These levies cannot last more than 10 years and must be

regularly renewed or replaced

› Delano voters approved the school’s current operating levy in

2012, and funding runs out next year
Levy proposal
› Levies are based on a “per pupil unit” (PPU) cost, so the
amount of revenue depends on enrollment

› The current levy is for $374.89 per pupil, which generates about
$1 million in annual funding

› The school board has decided to ask voters for an increase of

roughly $600 per pupil for a new amount of $970
Levy proposal
› Tax impact if the levy is approved

Home value Annual tax Monthly tax

$200,000 $188 $16
$250,000 $233 $19
$300,000* Delano average $281 $23
$350,000 $327 $27
$400,000 $374 $31
$500,000 $468 $39
$600,000 $561 $47
District comparison
› How do we Operating Referendum Taxes, Payable 2020, on a Home with an
Estimated Market Value of $325,000
$600
compare to $510

other districts in $500

$463

terms of tax $400 $377

$392
$353

revenue from $300

$304
$269
$249
operating $204
$221
$200 $167
levies?
$100
$34 $41

$0
FAQ
› Why not just renew the current levy?

– A simple renewal will not maintain the status quo. The operating
levy approved in 2012 is no longer keeping up with expenses due
to higher costs, and the district has been deficit spending for the
past several years.

Cuts needed if the levy were renewed but not increased:

11 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers/specialists
5 FTE non-teaching staff
Grade 7-8 activities eliminated or moved to Community Ed. pay-to-play model
Increased activity fees
FAQ
› Why not ask for a smaller increase?

– Any per-pupil increase of less than $600 will require additional

cuts, including some staff

– School board members did not want to see the district decline and
decided to ask for the full amount needed to preserve current
class sizes and programs
FAQ
› Can’t the district cut the extras and be more efficient?

– Delano has traditionally operated on a tight budget that

emphasizes the essentials. Auditors have called its consistency
“remarkable.”

– From the independent 2018 audit: “You’re doing more for your
students with less dollars,” said Janel Bitzan of Bergan KDV.
“You’re being more efficient than the average district.”
FAQ
› How is the district’s money allocated?
3
4

15
Student Instruction Support
Services, 77
Buildings and Sites, 15

Debt Service and Other

Fixed Costs, 4
District Support Services, 3

77
FAQ
› Why hold an odd-year election?
– School board members felt it was irresponsible to wait until the last
possible opportunity, which is November of 2022, to take action on the
expiring levy. This would risk damaging cuts of about $2.3 million if the
levy does not pass on a first try in 2022. Levy referendums can only be
held in November.

– A stand-alone election allows the school district to explain the reasons

for its request without competing for the attention of voters against high-
profile political issues. District residents have a better opportunity to
focus on and evaluate the information available in order to make their
decision.
Potential outcomes
› What happens if the levy doesn’t pass?

– Deficit spending and cuts will continue next year

– The school board can call for another referendum in November of

2022, but this would be the last opportunity to pass an operating
levy before extensive cuts become necessary
Potential outcomes
› What happens if the levy passes?

– No cuts will be needed in the foreseeable future and current

programs and activities can be maintained

– Unless there are significant changes among the variables that

determine a district’s funding, such as enrollment, no programs
will be added
Survey information
› A scientific survey conducted earlier this year on behalf of
the district said…
– Informing voters is vitally important
› Initial support for a levy increase was 35.7 percent, but this number climbed
to 55.6 percent when respondents were given more information

› This was among the greatest differentials observed by Baker Tilly over the
course of 500-plus surveys conducted for different districts
Survey information
› A scientific survey conducted earlier this year on behalf of
the district said…
Grade the District
– Voters recognize the district’s effectiveness
1
13
› 74% gave the district an A or B on the 3

quality of its work 40

9

› 4% gave a D or F

› 13% did not share an opinion 34

A B C D F No response
Survey information
› A scientific survey conducted earlier this year on behalf of
the district said…
Grade the District
– Voters generally approve of district’s
financial management 17
31
› 47% gave the district an A or B on its
financial management
30
› 8% gave a D or F 1 7

14
› 31% did not share an opinion
A B C D F No response
Vote Yes Strategy
Campaign outline
August 2021
Background
› Elections have gotten ugly; yes, even school elections

› Historical approach (yard signs, door-knocking, cold

calling) can be confrontational and ineffective

› Elections are not won by changing peoples’ minds; they

are won by getting supporters to show up and vote

› A peer-to-peer approach is effective and non-

confrontational
The math

Captains Lieutenants Yes Voters

Each find 10 Each find 10

= 20 = 200 = 2,000
20x10x10 = 2,000 votes!

Captains Lieutenants Voters

Find 10 lieutenants Find 10 supportive voters Remember to vote!

Responsible for finding 10 Responsible for finding 10 people

supporters who can find 10 more who will vote yes
supporters
Responsible for reminding their 10 Responsible for reminding those
lieutenants to vote, and reminding 10 people to vote
lieutenants to get their 10 to vote
School district role
› District office, school board and employees
– Role is to educate and inform. Share facts. Answer questions.
– School district resources cannot be used to promote the passage
of any referendum, just to educate voters
– District intends to be proactive with communications and wants
everyone to be informed
– District employees can participate in Vote Yes efforts, but cannot
do it on school time or using district resources (i.e. district email,
distributing info in classrooms)
Volunteer roles
› Data and communications leads (ideally at least two people)
– Track names and contact info for captains, lieutenants and supporters
– Has access to master voter file to help captains and lieutenants find
people, if needed

– Communicate with captains to maintain progress

– Liaison to school board/district office

› At least 20 captains to get the ball rolling!

Questions?