Farmers hear GFW bond referendum information
Questions would give district funding for new school
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WINTHROP -- Several dozen people, many of them farmers, listened, asked questions and discussed the upcoming Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop (GFW) bond referendum with school leaders, financial consultants and an architect at the United Farmers Cooperative Berdan Center in Wintrop Thursday.
School district voters will decide the fate of a two-question referendum Tuesday, April 11. The first ballot question would authorize $55 million in bonding authority for a new, centrally-located grade 7-12 school. The district would use existing long-term facilities maintenance funds and other methods to repair the Gibbon elementary school and continue to operate in two buildings.
Voters will consider an additional $14.9 million in bonding for a total of $69.9 million, to build a centralized PreK-12 school operational by fall 2025. The second option would result in $500,000 to $750,000 annual operating savings with a single school site.
With referendum approval, voters would consider revoking and replacing the current operating levy to offset costs and pass savings to taxpayers with a November 2023 election, which appears to be in the long-term interest of the district, according to school referendum information.
According to tax impact information distributed at the meeting, if questions 1 and 2 are approved and the upcoming operating levy reduction is approved, taxes on a $200,000 home in the district would see a monthly tax increase of $5.63 or 67.65 a year.
The current Ag2 School Credit is a law that would cover 50% of total bond cost for a Pre K-12 school with 71% of GFW tax base eligible for the credit, according to district tax impact information. The tax credit offsets 70% of facility bond costs to ag property.
Superintendent Jeff Horton said Gov. Tim Walz is calling to increase the Ag2School tax credit to 80%, which has legislative support.
Horton said residents could visit the GFW Public School Tax Calculator by taking a photo of the QR code on information distributed at the presentation or by visiting https://levyinform.levyinfo.com 2023.php to determine property tax impact of the April 11 bond referendum. Information is available step by step for land in Sibley, Renville, Nicollet and McLeod counties.
Sibley County Auditor-Treasurer Marilee Peterson said the tax calculator was very accurate.
Horton said there is a lot of information on the GFW Public School website, www.gfwschool.org.
"I've been a part of five facility projects in my career. I think this is the most robust website I've ever seen," Horton said. "I know many people in our district have questions. That's why I'm excited to be here to answer questions."
Horton said the school district has looked at new facilities for a long time. A facilities assessment showed the Winthrop school building in poor condition, approaching critical. He said the Gibbon school is the better of the two schools, but is still poor, approaching critical. "Minnesota Department of Education (DOE) told us that if the repair cost exceeds 60% of new, we should look at building new instead of putting money into old buildings," Horton said. "It's like having an old car you keep putting money into until you decide it's time to get a new one. We are at over 100% for our facilities for repairs and educational inadequacies."
Horton said the DOE doesn't approve of "cornfield schools" (a school built between a number of communities), that GFW doesn't need to consolidate with other districts and should have a single-site school.
He said a new school can spur enrollment and economic growth.
"Maple River added 100 students the first year it opened a new school. A school is a one of the biggest employers in town," Horton said. "We got a positive recommendation on this from Minnesota Department of Education."
Gibbon farmer Dave Theis had several questions about referendum tax calculation that he felt were answered.
"I think we got a lot of clarity. I think we had a very good meeting," he said.
A number of people spoke at the end of the presentation.
"If we don't back this project, we'll be paying with other school district's levies," said Winthrop Mayor Rob Edwards. "We need to move on. Let's get this done. Do what's best for the GFW community. Let's work together."
GFW Director of Technology Wade Werner praised the work Horton has done with the school district.
"He had to earn our trust. He had to do a job and he did it. We couldn't be more proud," said Werner. "It takes a team, it takes a village. (applause). Be proud of GFW. I am."
"I don't feel we've misled anybody," Horton said.
A woman thanked Horton for all his work on the bond referendum project.
"We've got to stop fighting and work together. Let's get the project done," said one man to applause.