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Please help us inform voters about the questions on the ballot on Nov. 7 by sharing the information below with your friends, neighbors and community members who do not have students attending SoWashCo Schools. 

We are two weeks away from Election Day 2023. South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools) will have three questions on the ballot on Nov. 7.

The focus of this week’s Election 2023 newsletter is on Question 3, a request to revoke and renew the district’s technology projects levy.

To learn more about Question 1 or Question 2, check out the last two election newsletters. 

SoWashCo Schools is hosting a final Community Information Session to present information and answer any questions you may have about the bond and levy.

Community Information Session

6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 1

Led by Superintendent Julie Nielsen.

Board Room at the District Service Center 

7362 E. Point Douglas Rd. S., in Cottage Grove

A technology projects levy provides a dedicated funding stream for technology-related expenses, including cybersecurity, instructional software, business software (for Finance, Payroll, Human Resources, Accounts Payable, etc.), and technology repair.

The technology projects levy supports nearly all facets of district operations, including: safety and security infrastructure, instructional and learning tools, networking and communications, and data management.

The state of Minnesota does not provide school districts with categorical funding for technology; most districts rely on capital projects levies for technology project funding.

The request asks voters to revoke and renew the existing technology levy, increasing the annual funding from $2.8 million to $5 million for the next 10 years.

As you see in the chart above, SoWashCo Schools current technology projects levy funds about $137 per pupil unit per year.

If Question 3 is approved, the technology projects levy would raise technology funding to about $244 per pupil unit per year, and the tax impact would be $3 on a median-valued home of $409,000. The state average is about $493 per pupil unit.

Question 3 is a standalone question, meaning it is not contingent on the passage of the bond questions.

Technology infrastructure is essential in supporting all facets of the district’s functionality.  

Communications infrastructure

• Wi-Fi
• Fiber optics
• Crisis communication systems
• Telephones
• Physical cabling

Security infrastructure

• Cybersecurity systems
• Public address systems
• Security cameras
• Access Control
• Intercoms
• Visitor management tools
• Data infrastructure (storage to protect privacy and integrity of databases)

Building automation infrastructure

• Energy management
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controls
• Lighting controls
• Essential utilities

Educational infrastructure

• Classroom technology
• Technology support and repair services
• Educational and instructional software
• Student and teacher devices
• Digital and media literacy training

What is the length of years for the bonds for the upcoming three questions on Nov. 7, 2023?

The funding for the two bond questions is for 20-year terms. The Technology Projects Levy in ballot Question 3 would revoke the current levy and replace it with the new one for the next 10 years.

Don't you already have a Technology Projects Levy?

In school finance, there are two types of levies: operating levies and capital projects levies.

Operating levies are voter-approved levies that provide funding for classrooms, instruction and other school operating costs.

Capital projects (technology) levies are approved by voters to provide funding dedicated for technology-related expenses, including cybersecurity, instructional software, business software and technology repair. 

Voters approved SoWashCo Schools’ operating levy in 2021, but the capital projects (technology) levy failed by less than 100 votes. The current capital projects levy was approved by voters in 2017, and is set to expire in 2027.

The request for Question 3 on the Nov. 7 ballot is to revoke and renew the current capital projects levy that was passed in 2017 with additional funding to address technology related to safety.

If this capital projects levy request fails with this revoke and renew request, the current capital projects (technology) levy will remain in place and the district would use the general fund for expenses that exceed the amount the current levy provides funding for.

If you have a question about our bond and levy questions, please use the button below to submit your question to us and we will respond back to you.

*choose "long-range facility planning" in the drop-down on the contact us form

Type in your address to see if your student would be impacted by the potential boundary changes that would occur if Bond Question 2 does not pass.

You can use this tool to determine the estimated property tax increase each ballot question would have on your household.

Check out our frequently asked questions about the bonds and levy.

Regular polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Find your polling location at www.mnvotes.org.

Early in-person voting is held at four Washington County sites.

View the informational video about the bond and levy questions on the ballot.

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