Referendum FAQ

Funding

Referendum FAQ

Operating Levies
Operating levies provide school districts with funding for day-to-day operations. Under state law, an operating levy may be approved for a period of 10 years or less. At that time, it either expires or voters can approve a proposal to renew it.

Revenue from local property tax levies is added to the school district's general fund for use in daily operations.

What Operating Levies Currently Exist in ISD 199?
Inver Grove Heights Community Schools currently has two operating levies in place for a total of $844.08 per pupil unit. One of our 10-year levies (for $480.19 per pupil unit) was re-approved in 2011 and will go into effect during the 2012-2013 school year. That levy will expire in 2023. The other portion ($363.89 per pupil unit) was re-approved in 2008 and expires in 2018.

ISD 199's $844.08 referendum revenue per pupil unit has remained stagnant since 2003. The maximum amount a Minnesota school district may receive in total voter-approved operating referendum revenue per pupil unit in 2012 is $1,588.90. As seen in the graph below, Inver Grove Heights Community Schools receives significantly lower funding per pupil compared to neighboring districts.

2012-2013 Operating Levy Authority

Bond Referendums
Voters are asked to authorize the district to borrow money - by issuing bonds - to fund capital projects. A district may use property tax revenue from a bond referendum to cover capital costs, such as building renovations or additions.

Payments on bond referendum debt can be spread throughout a maximum of 30 years.

What Bond Referendums Currently Exist in ISD 199?
Voters authorized the sale of $33,000,000 in bonds in the last bond referendum in May 2005 for the Middle School and Hilltop projects. The last payment on these bonds will occur in February 2026.

The district also has $3,945,000 in bonds outstanding from a 1996 bond referendum. The last payment on these bonds will occur in February 2017. The district recently financed a current refunding of the 2012-2017 maturities of the General Obligation School Building Refunding Bonds dated March 27, 2001. The lower rates will reduce future debt service payments by a total of $424,749. This will reduce property tax levies payable in 2011-2016 by an average of nearly $71,000 per year.

Capital Project Levies
Voters are asked to authorize an annual increase in the tax levy, with the funds being used to help fund capital costs. Capital project levies provide funding for critical safety, computer and technology infrastructure repairs and replacements.
Click here to see a graph comparing revenue districts receive from Capital Project Levies.

How do we know these investments are a good value?
Academics
Newsweek magazine and The Washington Post both have ranked Simley among America's top high schools. The U.S. Department of Education named Independent School District 199's elementary gifted magnet program, Atheneum, a National Blue Ribbon School.

Athletics
Inver Grove Heights students consistently perform at a high level of play and can compete with schools that have significantly higher enrollment numbers. Jill Richgels was named Minnesota's Ms. Soccer in 2011. Simley's wrestling team has created a dynasty, winning five consecutive state titles. The team finished the 2011-2012 season ranked #11 in the nation.

Environmentally Friendly
ISD 199 has continuously explored ways to save on energy costs in its buildings. As a result of the energy savings in the district, the EPA named ISD 199 an ENERGY STAR Leader. The Simley High School/Inver Grove Heights Middle School campus was named an ENERGY STAR Certified Building. This facility includes the two schools named above, as well as the bus garage and district office. In order to receive this award, a facility must rank in the top 25% most energy efficient buildings out of all facilities participating in the ENERGY STAR program.

Strong Community
A Knowledge Works Foundation report confirmed that education has an impact on national economic growth and competitiveness. The quality of public schools impacts economic growth and has an influence on the community's ability to attract new business. It also impacts local real estate values.

Technology Leaders
TIES selected ISD 199 as having the premier Minnesota Technology Leadership Team. The award recognizes a school district team that has had a significant impact on technology's role in transforming learning.

Has the district been financially responsible?

Inver Grove Heights Community Schools has received a certificate of excellence in financial reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) seven years in a row.
Independent School District 199 has obtained an Aa3 credit rating from Moody's. This high ranking indicates that the district has a strong credit-worthiness.