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District 88 asking for tax levy extension

A sample ballot for the District 88 tax levy questions. District voters will be asked to approve these questions on Nov. 2.

NEW ULM — Though this is an odd year, the District 88 School Board will hold a special election, Tuesday Nov. 2 to seek a new operating referendum from voters.

The ballot will contain two questions voters are asked to answer either yes or no.

The first question is called revoke and replace. Superintendent Jeff Bertrang said voters are being asked to eliminate two previously approved referendums in place of a single referendum.

“It really is combining them into one referendum if passed, and no change to the amounts,” Bertrang said in an email. “The new total for question one is the same as the current two referendums in place now. They are currently tied to inflationary increases (CPI) and the proposed new questions would be as well.”

Currently, the two levies collect $1.8 million and the replacement would collect the same.

The second question on the ballot is to help fund the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at the middle school, high school and CTE Center by creating a new operating levy. With the new levy, the school could collect $200 per student a year, with annual inflation.

Bertrang said the district is planning on building on what is currently in place to provide additional opportunities for students and community members.

The exact wording on the two questions is:

Question 1.) The board of Independent School District No. 88 (New Ulm Public Schools) has proposed to revoke the school district’s existing referendum revenue authorizations of $70.32 per pupil and $717.16 per pupil and to replace those authorizations with a new authorization of $787.48 per pupil.

The proposed referendum revenue authorization would increase each year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for ten years beginning with taxes payable in 2022, unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.

Shall the school district’s existing referendum revenue authorizations be revoked and the increase in the revenue proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 88 be approved?

Question 2.) The board of Independent School District No. 88 (New Ulm Public Schools) has proposed to increase its general education revenue by $200 per pupil to fund career and technical education programs. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would increase each year by the rate of inflation and be applicable for ten years beginning with taxes payable in 2022 unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.

If School District Question 1 is approved, shall the increase in the revenue proposed by the board of Independent School District No. 88 be approved?

The second question is dependent on the first question. If the first question on the ballot does not pass with a “yes” vote, the second question will not be approved either.

All referendum voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 2 at the New Ulm Community Center. Absentee voting is available 7:30 a.m. to 4 pm. Monday through Friday in the Dist. 88 office, 414 Payne St. s. until the day prior to the election.

A referendum information meeting begins at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25 in the NUHS auditorium, 1600 Oak St.

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