Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of commentary online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
•••
Minnesota school districts generally have about 60-70% approval ratings when they ask voters to increase their taxes for education. This past Election Day, only roughly 50% of the 45 districts seeking more taxpayer dollars were successful. The “yes” votes generally supported renewed or increased “tech levies” designed specifically to support technology upgrades.
General operating levies didn’t fare nearly as well. Just 11 of the 28 operating levies on Tuesday’s ballot earned voter support. Of the 30 operating levies (two earlier this year and 28 on Nov. 5) in 2024, only 12, or 40% were approved.
According to the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA), the organization that collects the data, that’s the lowest passage rate statewide since the group started tracking operating levies in 1980.
Those results appear to reflect uneasiness about the economy that came through in the national presidential election. Even when the requests amounted to just a few dollars per month on the average home, voters registered their worries about increased prices by voting “no” on school ballot questions.
MSBA executive director, Kirk Schneidawind said it was challenging for districts to reach voters about school issues in a presidential election year. More voters turn out, but they likely paid less attention to the specifics of ballot questions.
“I think if people are confused, they go for the red button and vote ‘no,’ ” he said.