As approved by the legislature and the governor, the [2007 education funding] bill provides a meager 1.37 percent increase for the 2008-09 school year and a portion of that funding is dedicated to special education and other categorical programs. Not surprisingly, nearly 100 school districts across the state will hold an operating referendum election in November – the second highest total on record according to the Minnesota School Boards Association.

September 2007
AMSD Connections

"Parents and community members across the state have passed hundreds of levies to support their schools, but property taxes were never meant to be a primary source of school funding."

—State Representative Mindy Greiling, March 2007

Are you going out for a local levy this year?  Does your citizen action group have a Web site? E-mail mary@parentsunited.org to network and share information with other Parents United parents!

Introduction

There are two parts to school levy campaigns: the District Informational Campaign and the Citizen Promotional Campaign. Minnesota law does not allow local school boards or superintendents to use their official positions to advocate for school levies. Consequently, Minnesota school levy campaigns are typically run by citizen groups.

District Informational Campaign

The goal is an informed citizenry.

• Districts must provide information about the campaign in a neutral manner.
• District funds cannot be used to promote the election's outcome.
• Districts may use funds for a neutral informational campaign.

Citizen Promotional Campaign
(the vote-yes group)

The goal is to pass the referendum.

• The promotional campaign operates independently of the school district.
• The individuals who work on the promotional campaign have a great deal of latitude in their promotional work.
• The promotional campaign raises and spends private funds.

The two entities can work together to coordinate efforts.