Given sparse attendance at the meetings, voters have few concerns or questions about the H-BC district’s proposed levy referendum renewal.
School board, staff and administration hosted information meetings Oct. 7 and Oct. 12 to explain the Nov. 2 special election to renew an existing levy referendum of $897.15 per student.
A second question on the ballot asks to add an inflationary factor to that amount. Inflation percentages averaged 1.87 percent over the last 10 years.
In recent weeks, school officials have sent information to property owners within the H-BC school district explaining the upcoming vote.
It includes a chart that shows how much tax a home, garage and one-acre of land would be levied annually, based on market value. Ag land is not subject to this school levy property tax.
Superintendent Todd Holthaus said a few residents sent back the sample ballots (which are not the official ballot and the results will not be tallied), leading school officials to guess at what questions voters have in the community.
In his 15-minute presentation about the district’s current levy, Holthaus said $300,000 in general fund revenue is generated annually.
“If we take $300,000 out of the budget, we will have to make reductions,” he said.
Because the majority of the district’s budget is salaries, staff reductions would take place, resulting in larger class sizes and fewer options in programming, technology and staff development.
The current levy was adopted in 2012 and will expire in a year.
If passed at the Nov. 2 special election, the current levy will continue from 2023-2033.
Board member Harley Fransman indicated several residents approached him with questions about the inflationary factor question.
Holthaus confirmed that both questions must pass in order for the district’s levy to be adjusted annually for inflation.
Adrian, Edgerton and Ellsworth districts have inflationary levies in their districts.
At the information session in Beaver Creek were board members Harley Fransman, Tami Rauk, Ethan Rozeboom and Tim Bosch.
The district’s business manager Amanda Rozeboom and high school principal Andrew Kellenberger were also present to answer questions.
Early voting open at county courthouse
Residents in the H-BC School District can vote early or on Nov. 2.
All voting is in person. No mail ballots will be used in this local special election, according to Rock County Auditor-Treasurer Ashley Kurtz.
“Because this is a special election, voters need to remember to go to the polls on Election Day to vote or request an absentee ballot,” she said. “Voters also need to be sure they go to the correct polling place for the precinct in which they live.”
Early voting at the auditor-treasurer’s office at the Rock County Courthouse in Luverne is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. now through Monday, Nov. 1.
The voting procedure is similar to that followed at the polls for registered voters.
“As long as they are registered at their current address, they would not need to bring anything,” she said.
“If they need to register, they would need to bring a valid photo ID at their current address.”
Those without a valid ID should call the auditor-treasurer office at 507-283-5060 ahead of time so staff personnel can walk them through the materials they will need to register. To view voter registration, go to website https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterStatus.aspx.
Absentee ballots can be requested through an in-person application. If requested, an application can be mailed.
“In past state primary and general elections, you could apply for an absentee ballot application online, but since this is a special election, that isn’t an option,” Kurtz said.
Those who requested an absentee ballot have until 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, to return the ballot to the courthouse. Absentee ballots can’t be brought to the polling places.
On Nov. 2, vote at correct precinct
On Nov. 2, in-person voting is open at the Beaver Creek City Hall or the Hills American Legion. Both polling places are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Those who need to vote in Beaver Creek include the city of Beaver Creek and the townships of Beaver Creek and Springwater.
Those who need to vote in Hills include the cities of Hills and Steen and the townships of Martin and Clinton.
In addition to the two levy referendum questions, voters must also choose a school board member due to a resignation earlier this year. Fransman, who was appointed to fill the position until the next election, has filed for election to the position that expires in 2023.