Unlike city, county and even the state government, school districts are the only public entities needing voter approval for a tax increase.
Meanwhile, state governments often announce increases in school allocations but fail to acknowledge new, concurrent mandates that effectively consume those funds and even more.
So, meeting the mandates and continuing to serve students effectively shifts the burden of essential school costs to district residents.
A key example of this erosion is the reclassification of dedicated funds, said Cleveland school superintendent Dustin Bosshart.
“Historically, areas like transportation were supported by separate, restricted funds. By eliminating these standalone accounts and rolling the allocations into the general fund, the state claimed to offer greater flexibility. But in reality, this move often led to a net reduction in overall resources, as the "new" money was simply a deduction rolled into the general funding formula.”
As a result, local operating levies—requests to fund day-to-day operations and small items, as compared to bonds, which pay for large building projects—which were once intended to fund "extras" or enhancements, have now become a fundamental necessity for districts to meet their daily operational needs.
The number of referenda held each year among the 331 Minnesota school districts is quite volatile, with a historical high of 78 in 1998 to between 30 and 60. However, as expected, there is a clear, long-term upward trend in the average amount requested per student.
Between 1991 and 2024, the average amount has increased from about $331 to $1,048.
The most significant single-year jump occurred between 2023 ($785) and 2024 ($1,048).
While Cleveland School is always looking for ways to operate more efficiently, tomorrow, November 4, district voters will be asked to support a $750 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation, operating levy to support the day-to-day operations of the school district. The levy would be collected through residential homesteads, apartments, and commercial industrial property taxes.
Voting takes place in the Cleveland City Hall (205 4th Street, Cleveland) from 7:00 A.M.–8:00 P.M or, until 4:30 p.m. today, at the Le Sueur County Government Center (courthouse) in Le Center.
A voter must be registered to vote to be eligible to vote in the special election. Unregistered individuals may register to vote at the polling place on election day. All qualified electors residing in the school district can cast their ballots.
For more information about the school’s operating levy, please visit the Cleveland Public School operating levy web page.