The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage district is one step closer to putting a referendum on the ballot, with administrators proposing a Feb. 24 date for residents to vote on a possible tax increase.

There will likely be two questions, one asking for approval of a 20-year building bond for between $63 million and $70 million and another question proposing a $2.5 million-a-year levy for 10 years to pay for technology upgrades.

The exact amount of the bond hasn't been decided yet.

No action has yet been taken by the school board, but a February vote is needed so all of the changes in store -- including a high school addition to accomodate 800 more students, security updates and technology improvements -- can be made by the fall of 2016.

The additional funding would pay for elements of a plan called Vision One91, which will move sixth-graders to the middle school and ninth-graders to high school. The vision also includes more early learning programs, closing the senior campus and consolidating the district's administrative offices into one location.

Board member DeeDee Currier said she was once "enamored" with having K-6 elementary schools -- the traditional arrangement in the district --- but she now supports the new grade configurations.

"The future is in our hands right now, and we need to give this opportunity to our community," she said.

Both questions together would cost the owner of an average, $200,000 home less than $180 a year, officials estimated.

The district's last bond referendum was in the late 1990s and resulted in the construction of Harriet Bishop Elementary in Savage.

Board member Jim Schmid said things will be moving quickly between now and February, "so hold on and get ready."

The board will vote on placing two questions on the ballot on Nov. 13.