West, north metro schools seek taxpayer help Nov. 4

If voters approve Robbinsdale Area Schools' request for a new technology levy, the suburban district will join the vast majority of Hennepin County schools that have a dedicated stream of funding to pay for things like computers, whiteboards and other digital needs.

There are four Hennepin County school districts without a technology levy — Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Center and St. Anthony/New Brighton.

Robbinsdale school officials say that coming off that very shortlist would benefit the district's students.

"While we have a comprehensive technology plan for our students, it's been chronically underfunded," said Dennis Beekman, the district's technology director. "We've been chipping away at it, but having a dedicated source of funding would empower us to create those personalized student learning environments envisioned in the plan."

If approved, the levy would provide the district with $3.5 million annually for 10 years. The district would use most of that money to put personal learning devices, such as Google Chromebook, in the hands of students in grades 5 to 12. Currently, the district does not provide those devices on a one-to-one basis for all of its high-school students.

School officials plan to use revenue from a technology levy to pay for teacher technology training and to maintain the district's current network infrastructure.

The district is also seeking to renew its current operating levy of $1,418 per pupil, which provides $20 million a year. Renewing that levy would not change the tax burden for homeowners in the district. Approving the technology levy would result in a $7 per month tax increase for the owner of a $195,000 home.

The district is seeking to renew its current operating levy of $589 per pupil and increase that amount by $700 for a total of $1,289 per pupil. If approved, the owner of a $325,000 house would see a net tax increase of $8 per month. This levy would generate $12.7 million per year for 10 years. If that question passes, the district is seeking to increase that amount by an additional $150 per pupil, for a total operating levy of $1,439 per pupil. If that request is approved, the owner of a $325,000 house would see a tax increase of $5 per month. This levy would provide $1.5 million for 10 years.

The district is asking voters to approve taking out $75 million in general obligation bonds to pay for a new ­elementary school and make modifications at the high school and middle school. If approved, school officials say the bond request will not increase property taxes, because of expiring debt costs.

The district is asking voters to renew its operating levy of $674 per pupil. If they do, property taxes will not increase, school officials say. It is also asking voters to renew a technology levy, estimated to raise about $10 million over 10 years. If approved, the owner of a $300,000 house would see an increase in taxes of $1.92 per month.

The district is asking to renew its current operating levy of $608 per pupil. If voters approve this question, it will not raise taxes. The district is also asking voters to approve a capital projects levy that would provide an extra $1 million each year for 10 years to pay for facility renovations. The owners of a $100,000 house would see an increase in taxes of $4.91 per month if this request is approved.

The district is asking voters to approve taking out $49 million in general obligations bonds to renovate its current buildings and improve security. The district is also asking to revoke its current operating levy of $465 per pupil and replace it with a 10-year levy of $770 per pupil. Because of expiring debt costs, school officials say the owner of a $250,000 home would see a decrease of $54 annually if both questions pass.

School officials are asking voters to revoke the district's current operating levy of $988 per pupil and replace it with $1,068 per pupil for taxes payable in 2015-2017, $1,149 for taxes payable in 2018-20 and $1,229 for taxes payable in 2021-2024. For the owner of a $225,000 house, taxes would increase by $3.44 a month between 2015-17, $6.88 a month for 2018-20 and $10.31 a month for 2021-24. The district is also asking voters to approve a technology levy to provide $450,000 annually for 10 years. If this question passes, the owner of a $225,000 home would see a tax increase of $10.59 a month.