Minnesota House Education Finance Committee Chair Pat Garofalo Wednesday proposed requiring school money questions to become even year votes.

Right now, those education levy elections are often held on odd numbered years, which Garofalo says leads to lower turnout and higher likelihood of passage.

Garofalo, R-Farmington, has been publicly questioning some districts' drive to get local voters to approve higher levy amounts this year.

Update:

Roseville DFL Rep. Mindy Greilling, a former House education committee chair, said in a news release that she strongly opposed the proposal.
"This proposal is an attack on local control. Minnesota communities should be trusted to make appropriate budget decisions that are best for their schools and children," Greilling said. "Today's announcement has nothing to do with increasing participation. The only transparency I saw today was the crystal clear attempt to defeat local levies."

More than 100 school districts will ask voters to approve more levy authority in the Nov. 8 election.

View the past success rates of levy questions in a chart from Parents United here. (opens an Excel file)