Election Day 2011

There are two questions on the ballot for Northfield voters in this Tuesday’s election. Note that the polling locations originally listed in this story were inaccurate. The information has been updated.

The Ballot Questions

Question 1 asks the community to approve an operating levy for $1,604 per pupil for ten (10) years beginning in the 2012-13 school year. This levy would replace the current operating levy of $1,270 per pupil two years before it is set to expire.  An operating levy is a funding option provided by the State to allow school districts to request authority from the community to locally provide the necessary revenue to operate their schools. (Source: Northfield Public Schools)

Question 2 asks the community to renew the current Capital Projects Levy of $750,000 for an additional 10 years when it expires in 2013-14. Passage of ballot question #2 for the Capital Projects Levy is contingent on the successful passage of ballot question #1 for the Operating Levy. If the Operating Levy does not pass, the Capital Projects Levy will not pass even if it has enough votes. A Capital Projects Levy is a funding option provided by the State to allow school districts to maintain and update facilities and to replace instructional technology and textbooks. Funds raised by a Capital Project Levy can only be used for facilities, technology and textbooks. (Source: Northfield Public Schools)

Click Read More for voter resources.

Resources

2011 Levy Election Fact Sheet (Northfield Public Schools)

Northfield School District Levy Guide (Northfield Public Schools .pdf). Includes a complete list of polling places for the entire district.

Calculator: How Will the Referendum Affect Your Property Taxes?

Northfield School District Levy Referendum: A Primer (Northfield Patch)

School levy referendum vote, Nov. 8 (Northfield News)

School Board Members Kari Nelson & Noel Stratmoen talk about the upcoming Levy Referendum (KYMN)

Vote Yes Levy Referenda (Northfield Citizens for Quality Education)

Rep. Pat Garofalo: “School levy: How much is enough for taxpayers?” (Northfield News)

The Numbers Behind the School Levy Vote (KARE-11). Statewide. An interview with the president of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.

UPDATED: POLLING LOCATIONS

Ward and Precinct Map of Northfield (City of Northfield 600k .pdf)

If you are unsure of where to vote, you can go to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Poll Finder.

Polling Places open at 7:00 am and close at 8:00 pm.