1. Operating Referendum
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

2. What is an operating referendum?
An operating referendum provides additional revenue for:
Instructional Supplies (textbooks, workbooks, paper, etc.)
Salaries and Services directly related to the educational process (teachers, secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, administrators, etc)
Utilities (gas, heat, electricity)
Basic Building Maintenance
Transportation (fuel, bus maintenance and repair)

3. How is an operating referendum different than a building bond?
A building bond provides one time revenue that can only be used for major building renovation or new construction.

4. How is taxation for an operating referendum different than a building bond?
Unlike building bonds:
Agricultural properties will pay taxes based solely on the value of their house, garage, and one acre of surrounding ag land.
Seasonal recreational residential properties (cabins) do not pay taxes on operating referendum.
Taxable property is dictated by Minnesota tax codes.

5. Why do we need an operating referendum?
The current operating referendum will expire in 2009.

6. Why do we need an operating referendum?
The State of Minnesota’s basic education aid has been frozen.
Basic State Percentage
School Year Funding Per-Pupil Increase
$4601
$ %
$ %
$ %
$ %
$ %
* $ %
$ %
$ %
Yearly Average Increase %
*Includes one-time $50 per-pupil funding

7. Why do we need an operating referendum?
The districts enrollment has been declining, which results in a decrease in state funding.
First Day of School K-12 Enrollment * * *
*Projected based on pre-school population and historical trends

8. Why do we need an operating referendum?
Projected expenditures and revenue leave a shortfall.
Revenue $6,930,574
Expenditures ($8,332,833)
Shortfall ($1,402,259)

9. What is the board asking voters to consider?
The school board is asking voters to consider an operating referendum of $1200 per pupil unit for six years, beginning in the school year.
If approved, the referendum would provide an estimated $1,393,853 in funding per year to help meet the $1,402,259 projected shortfall.

10. How do we utilize our financial resources?
Expenses

11. Have we been prudent with our resources?
The district has focused on fiscally prudent budgeting and planning to make the 2002 operating levy last the full seven years of voter approved levy authority.
The Minnesota Department of Education has recognized the District for five consecutive years with the School Finance Award. It is given to districts that demonstrate fiscal health and compliance with state statutes.

12. What reductions have been made since 2002?
Even with the passage of the 2002 operating referendum, the district still needed to make the following reductions in order to maintain a balanced budget.
8.2 Teachers
4.0 Paraprofessionals
1.0 District Office
1.0 Curriculum Coordinator
0.5 Administrator
0.5 Custodian
0.4 Counselor
Closed and repurposed the Elysian building

13. What will the operating referendum be used for?
The operating referendum will be used to maintain current programming.

14. How do our school taxes compare to neighboring districts?
Comparison of school taxes on a home with
taxable market value of $115,000 14

15. How do our school taxes compare to neighboring districts?
Comparison of school taxes on a home with
taxable market value of $220,000 15

16. What will the operating referendum cost property owners?
Types of Properties: Residential, Farmstead, Apartments, and Commercial-Industrial Property
Taxable Estimated
Market Value Expiring Levy Proposed Levy Net Increase
$50, $46 $ $72
$75, $69 $ $109
$100, $92 $ $145
$125, $115 $ $181
$150, $138 $ $217
$160, $147 $ $232
$175, $161 $ $253
$200, $184 $ $290
$250, $230 $ $362
$300, $276 $ $434
$350, $322 $ $507
$400, $368 $ $579 16

17. What would our taxes have been this year with the proposed levy in place?
Comparison of school taxes on a home with
taxable market value of $115,000 17

18. What would our taxes have been this year with the proposed levy in place?
Comparison of school taxes on a home with
taxable market value of $220,000 18

19. What would happen if the district dissolved?
If we close our schools, the borders of neighboring districts would be redrawn to include property in our district.
Tax payers would pay school taxes to their new district.

20. What will happen if the operating referendum does not pass?
If the operating referendum does not pass, the district faces a projected $1.4 million shortfall. During the school year, the school board would met this shortfall by:
Spending the entire projected general fund balance of $637,000
Making budget reductions of $765,000
During the 2010 calendar year, the school board would again ask voters to consider an operating referendum.
If that referendum also fails, the school board would need to make further reductions of at least $637,000 beginning in the school year. 20

21. What will happen if the operating referendum does not pass?21

22. What will happen if the operating referendum does not pass?22

23. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
When & Where Do I Vote?
Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
on Tuesday November 3, 2009.
Elysian Building, Gymnasium
Elysian Township & City of Elysian, Precincts 1 & 2
Jamestown Township, Blue Earth County
Janesville Township, Waseca County
Morristown Building, Gymnasium
Blooming Grove Township, Waseca County
Morristown Township & City of Morristown
Shieldsville Township, Rice County
City of Warsaw
Waterville Building, Elementary Gymnasium
Cordova Township, Le Sueur County
Iosco Township, Waseca County
Kilkenny Township & City of Kilkenny Ward 1
Waterville Township & City of Waterville 23

24. Want to know more? County Auditors WEM School Board Members
Blue Earth Andrea Jewison
Le Sueur Tom Little
Rice Gary Michael
Waseca Pat Nusbaum
Roy Schmidtke
EHLERS and Associates Toya Schmidtke
Educational Team Jay Schneider
Check out our website at: Administration
Joel Whitehurst, Superintendent
Randy Mediger, Principal (K-4)
Bernardine Sauter, Principal (5-8)
John Kaplan, Principal (9-12)
Click on the WEM Property Tax Information Website link and use the interactive calculator to see the tax impact of the operating referendum on your property. 24

25. Operating Levy Referendum
November 3, 2009
Be Informed
and VOTE 25