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District vote set for Nov. 3

Subhead
School seeks votes to renew current levy; public meeting tonight
By
Mavis Fodness

Luverne Public School District officials are seeking to renew one of two operating levy referendums set to expire at the end of this year.
To help voters understand the levy’s impact on the district for the past 10 years, school officials will conduct a public meeting tonight (Oct. 29) at the elementary school commons.
The meeting will begin at 8 p.m.
Currently, the existing levy generates $763.34 per pupil or about $825,000 each year to support required learning activities within the district. Included in those expenses are staff salaries, supplies and building upgrades.
“It’s a matter of maintaining our current programs,” said School Board Chairman David Riphagen. “We cannot maintain staff and programs over time without the community’s support.”
Tours of the school campus will be conducted for those interested in viewing the facilities after the public meeting.
During the public meeting, information presented will include the annual dollar amounts paid by property owners based on the property’s market value.
For agricultural properties (both homestead and non-homestead), the taxes for the proposed referendum will be based on the value of the house, garage and one acre of land only. No referendum taxes are paid on the value of agricultural lands or buildings.
Because the levy referendum is based on current market values, the average property owner will see an increase with approval of the renewal. Increases range from $3 and higher.
For instance on properties valued at $100,000, the levy will increase $5, from $119 to $124 per year. The levy referendum will apply to residential, homesteads, apartments and commercial-industrial properties.
It doesn’t include seasonal residential recreational properties.
Renewal of the existing levy will be for an additional 10 years.
For all eligible voters residing in the school district, a combined polling place will be used for the renewal referendum vote.
Voting will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the Luverne Middle School/High School gymnasium, 709 N. Kniss Ave. in Luverne.
Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A referendum vote in Pipestone Area Schools will also affect some local residents.
The district there seeks to replace a $776.09 per pupil referendum with a $1,475 per pupil referendum, also for 10 years. Polls are open in the Pipestone High School from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 3.

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