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Website offers more on plan to seek another $350,000 in taxes
by Tom Coombe
In advance of a November vote, Ely school officials are working to get the word out about a $350,000 capital project levy.
District voters will decide whether to increase taxes and pump additional dollars to cover some transportation, technology and curriculum expenditures.
But discussion at Monday’s school board study session revealed that board members have faced few questions about the proposal - and the district is utilizing its website to provide further information.
Anyone going to the district’s web page (www.ely. k12.mn.us) can find a specific icon to click and see data including a presentation made this summer by school financial advisors and specific tax-related data.
“Anybody in the community or anybody that has any property can go in and click and (find out the property tax impact),” said superintendent Anne Oelke.
One specific example cited at the meeting showed that a seasonal recreational property valued at $650,000 would see a $246 annual tax increase, or about $21 a month, if the levy is approve.
Estimates compiled by the district’s financial advisors showed that levy would raise property taxes by $22 a year on a $100,000 home and $61 on a $200,0000 residential property.
The website also outlines the district’s rationale for the levy, which has been touted as a way to gain revenue from all district properties - including seasonal recreational properties that are exempt from operating levies - to help pump additional dollars into the district.
A capital project levy is allowed by state law to provide more funding for schools in an assortment of areas, while offsetting general money that would otherwise be used for those purposes.
“This is ongoing,” Oelke said of the proposed 10-year levy. “For increasing technology and transportation costs and making sure we have the freshest curriculum for our students. And that’s all a cost and they keep going up and up and up.”
While the issue is on the ballot, board members said that a public relations effort (Continued on Page 2) may be needed both to answer questions and to make voters aware that the issues in the ballot.
“I have been surprised by how few people know about it,” said school board member Jen Westlund. “It’s not quite on the radar yet so maybe bringing this to people will create some of those conversations.”
Board members also said the effort may also help to clear misconceptions.
While voters approved a $10 million referendum in 2020 for the school’s renovation project, and Minnesota lawmakers allocated $5.25 million this year for Ely school sports facilities, those funds are specifically earmarked and can’t be used for other purposes.
“I did have one person ask me why we couldn’t use some of that money,” said board member Rochelle Sjoberg.
During the summer, school financial advisors produced data showing that state education funding hasn’t kept pace with inflation while earlier this year, the school district made about $270,000 in budget cuts and revenue enhancements, while still authorizing a budget that calls for deficit spending in 2024-25.
Oelke said levy approval is needed to ward off further cuts. “If this doesn’t pass, we are going to be looking at cuts,” said Oelke. “Last time we stayed really far away from our students and staff but we’re not going to have that luxury next year.”
Board member Tony Colarich pressed for school officials to make the case for the referendum, and to make sure people vote on the matter.
Referendum approval hinges on a majority of ballots cast, with blank ballots essentially counting the same as ballots marked in opposition to the proposal.
In addition to the website, the school will be using newspaper advertisements and social media, including Facebook, to bring residents information about the proposal.
“We’re trying to get the message out there about what we are asking for and why we’re asking for it,” said Oelke.
