VOTE YES!
on November 2nd, 2021
ISD #31 Referendum
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HOW DO I VOTE?
Voting is until 8pm on Tuesday November, 2nd.
You may not be voting in your normal polling place. Click the button below to see where you can vote:
WHAT IS THE REFERENDUM?
The ISD #31 Referendum Vote on November 2nd is to increase community district funding from $180/student to $460/student. The referendum seeks to close the school budget shortfall that is a result of stagnant state funding and high transportation costs within our very large school district. 35 other districts in the state of Minnesota are also voting on referendums this year.
WHY ARE WE VOTING?
The state of Minnesota provides approximately approximately 60% of school funding. Since 2008, the largest yearly increase has been 2%. These increases have not at all kept up with inflation, which means that the schools receive effectively less money from the state than they did in 2008. If we want to keep the services that we were able to offer 13 years ago, the community is left to fill the gap.
Source: US Consumer Price Index, US Bureau of Labor Statistics. www.bls.gov
Inflation (average cost of goods and services) has increased by 30% since 2008. However, the state funding has only increased by a total of 23% since that time. This means $3,000,000 less money towards Bemidji education. ISD #31 has made some difficult cuts in the last year, and we need to vote yes on November 2nd in order to get our funding back on track, and offer the same educational opportunities that the previous generation received.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
The referendum tax is based on tax assessed home value. For a $100,000 home, taxes will increase by $3.74 per month.
Referendum cost calculator
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Here is why you should Vote Yes!