Referendum

Vote November 7

High School Addition

FAQs
District-Wide Needs
Proposed Solution
The Investment
Questions & Voting Information
Property Tax Information
Tax Credits and Deferrals
Supt. Stream
MMS Addition

District-Wide Needs

QUESTION 1: Not to exceed $49,975,000

Transition k-4 elementary students to the current middle school, move 5-8 students to the current high school, and construct and equip new addition to the high school building for grades 9-12.

Educational

Outdated Educational Spaces
With the exception of the current middle school, most of the classrooms and other educational spaces at Sanford, Ramsey and the high school are too small and outdated for modern teaching and learning.

Drop Off Pick Up

Safety & Security
Drop-off and pick-up traffic patterns at all of our schools need to be reconfigured to improve safety for students and drivers. In addition, all schools need updated entrances to better monitor and control visitor access.

Aging Buildings

Aging Buildings
Ramsey and Sanford Elementary Schools are almost 70 years old, and while well maintained, the building's infrastructure (plumbing, HVAC, and electrical) is original and failing.

QUESTION 2: Not to exceed $11,335,000

Construct and equip a performing arts center as part of the new high school site. (Question 2 will only pass if Question 1 is approved.)

Performing Arts

Performing Arts
The former fine arts center closed in the 2020-21 school year, so the district and community no longer have a dedicated space for concerts, plays, musicals and other performances.

The Proposed Solution

The Proposed Educational Pathway
This referendum would positively impact all students as they move through our school district. The proposed plan would close both Ramsey and Sanford Elementary Schools and renovate the middle school into a consolidated elementary school building. This would improve efficiencies (sharing staff, academics, and maintenance), eliminate future maintenance expenses for the Ramsey and Sanford buildings, and save operational costs by shifting from five (5) facilities to three(3).

Furthermore, middle (5-8) and high (9-12) school students will share a campus at the current high school with a significant addition while retaining two school identities. As a result, students will benefit from shared access to elective courses and educational spaces, while remaining separate from each other throughout the day.

Educational Pathway

The Proposed Solution

Middle School Site Plan

High School Addition Plan

Aerial View

In addition, if the referendum is successful:
Ramsey Elementary will be demolished and the land will be sold. The district will work with the city and neighborhood to determine an appropriate land use.
Sanford Elementary will be demolished, and a new Jr. Varsity baseball field will be built to replace the baseball field lost by the high school addition. The current high school locker rooms would also be renovated.

The Investment

A Unique Opportunity
Public school funding in Minnesota creates a unique opportunity for the Montevideo Public Schools and our local taxpayers to make extensive improvements to our facilities by capitalizing on significant state equalization funding provided for bond referenda.

Referendum Funding Chart

The chart shows estimated sources of payments for debt service on the proposed bonds over the life of the bonds. Estimates assume no changes in property values, state equalizing factors, or in-state law. “Agriculture Land & Buildings” excludes taxes on the house, garage and one acre of land, which are included with “Residental / Other.”

What Will This Cost Me?
Approval of the ballot questions would result in a property tax increase beginning with taxes payable in 2024, and the debt service tax levies would remain in place for 20 years.

For example, a Residential Homestead property with a market value of $200,000 would have an estimated $500 annual tax impact starting in 2024.

Residential Cost Example

For more information about the estimated tax impact for your Residential Homestead, Commercial/Industry, or Agricultural Property, visit our property tax informational page.

THE TAX CALCULATOR

The Questions & Voting Information

WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT?

School District Question 1
Shall the school board of Independent School District No. 129 (Montevideo Public Schools) be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $49,975,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including converting the existing Montevideo Middle School site and facility for use as a grade K-4 elementary school; converting the existing Montevideo High School site and facility for use as a 5-8 middle school; the construction and equipping of a new high school addition to the existing high school site; the decommissioning of the Sanford and Ramsey Elementary School sites and facilities?

School District Question 2
If School District Question 1 is approved, shall the school board of Independent School District No. 129 (Montevideo Public Schools) also be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $11,335,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction and equipping of an auditorium at the new high school site?

VOTING INFORMATION
Special Referendum Election on November 7, 2023.

Register to Vote - Check your registration or register to vote

Absentee/Early Voting - September 22-November 6, 2023*
Early In-Person at the District Office at Montevideo Middle School, 2001 William Avenue, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To vote, enter through the west District Office entrance. You will be buzzed into the building to proceed to the District Office front desk/voting area. *The Montevideo School District will be closed on Thursday, October 19, and Friday, October 20, 2023.

Request an absentee ballot - Contact the School District Office at 320-269-8833 or E-mail: election@montevideoschools.org. Absentee ballots are due to the District Office by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

Election Day Voting - Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Polling Location - National Guard Training and Community Center (TACC), 711 South 17th Street, Montevideo, MN
Polling Hours - 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Visit https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/ or contact your local municipal clerk or school district office for more information or if you have any questions.