Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a building bond, what the district has been asking for, and an operating levy, which the district is asking for now?

A bond request and an operating levy are both methods school districts can use to generate revenue and both require voter approval, but they serve different purposes. Put simply, levies are for learning and bonds are for building. Operating levies provide sustained funding for the district's day-to-day operational expenses, bridging the gap left by state and federal allocations. These expenses include salaries for teachers and support staff, classroom supplies, utilities, transportation costs and other operational expenses. 

Annandale's operating levy is the lowest in the area and one of the lowest in the state. That means we don't have as much money as our neighboring districts to operate our schools. The School Board is seeking a voter-approved operating levy on the November 2024 ballot. 

When and where do I vote?

Please visit our Election Information Page for more information on polling locations and voter registration.

Why is this issue on the ballot?

Annandale Schools do not have the same level of funding as surrounding school districts. Our school district has worked hard to make investments in our schools that our staff, students and parents believe are important while keeping our school tax rate as steady as possible for property owners.  

To ensure the quality education and well-rounded learning environment our students deserve, our district’s vision is to:  

• -Continue our district’s successful investments in learning technology to promote the development of valuable digital and career-focused skills.  

• -Strengthen funding for student learning to ensure programming remains strong and competitive.  

• -Invest in the future of our students while keeping school taxes as stable as possible for property owners in the Annandale School District.

Do other districts use voter-approved operating levies?

Yes. Approximately 70% of school districts in Minnesota have voter-approved operating levies.

How would this plan impact students?

Increasing our operating levy by $750 per pupil would support classroom curriculum and materials, small class sizes, facility operations, salaries and other educational expenses that all contribute to a quality learning environment for our students. 

Renewing the operating levy would ensure that Annandale students continue to have the technology and curricular resources they currently rely on for high-quality education and the development of career-focused skills.  

I don’t have kids in school. Why should I care about this?

Strong schools are essential to local communities, especially communities of our size. They equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed and can attract families, businesses and industries to stimulate economic growth. Our schools also serve as a hub for community education and events, with the goal of fostering a sense of belonging among residents in our district.

Didn't we recently vote in a referendum?

In August of 2023, Annandale School District voters did not pass a building bond referendum to address the school district’s facility needs. 

An operating levy is different from a building bond. This $750/student funding would help our district support classroom curriculum and materials, small class sizes, facility operations, salaries and other educational expenses that cannot be covered with state funding alone. It would bring our district closer to the state average of $1,036/student for local funding and provide equitable support for learning relative to similarly sized districts in Minnesota.

At Annandale Schools, we are committed to continually identifying opportunities to improve the education we provide while maintaining a steady school tax rate. The district and school board carefully manage district finances and make strategic decisions on managing district debt and voter-approved funding to keep our school tax rate as stable as possible for taxpayers.

We know some local districts are at $0 for their approved levies. How do districts sustain being at $0 for their voter approved operating levy? 

Districts that have no voter approved levy have to make drastic reductions/cuts. Typically, they are forced to cut staffing and programming for a few years until they reach a point where they can function with a lot less staff and a lot less programming. Some districts may receive financial support from a foundation or business to support a specific program of interest such as robotics and aviation. The district will still need to prioritize certain programs and make reductions to reduce their offerings.  

What is the current operating levy?

The current voter approved operating levy is $79/student. It generated approximately $179,000 for the district in the 23-24 school year.  Shown on the first graph here, titled, FY2015 Wright County Operating Levy Referendum Amount Per Student, Annandale has one of the lowest among the Wright County school districts.

I own several acres of agricultural land in the Annandale School District. How will this operating levy affect my taxes? 

Agricultural property will only pay taxes based only on the house, garage and one acre of land. You can find the tax calculator at this link. 

I own seasonal property in the Annandale School District. How does this operating levy affect my taxes?

Seasonal recreational residential property(i.e. cabins) will pay NO taxes for this operating levy.

Since the referendum/bond didn’t pass last year, what are we doing to address our building needs for a new middle school?