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If approved, the new operating levy would  be in place for 10 years, through the 2033-34 school year.

School districts have a variety of funding sources. The current local operating levy generates 15% of the school district’s annual operating revenue. If Question 1 passes and the board chooses to renew the existing levy in 2024, then the operating levies would account for nearly 25% of the district’s annual operating revenue. The operating levy funds are used to support the daily operations of the school district, support our student’s social-emotional needs, maintain small class sizes, provide additional support to multilingual students and special education students, and update curriculum.

If approved, the increase in operating levy funds would::

• Elevate academic support and programs advancing future-focused learning. 

• Improve social-emotional learning for our students and staff.

• Increase support for our teachers through professional development and coaching.

• Develop a robust recruit and retain program for highly-qualified educators, ensuring that our schools are staffed with the best possible educators.  

The tax impact for a home valued at $330,000 is $32/month or $384/year. To view what the investment would be for your home, please use the tax calculator on our website.

If Question 1 is not approved by voters, our district will continue to operate with our existing operating levy. School boards are now able to approve the renewal of an operating levy once without voter approval, and the board would take action to continue current funding. 

Without additional funding, we could face millions in budget cuts, face increased class sizes and risk cutting academic and social-emotional learning programming.

School districts are required to set enrollment targets at each grade level based on staffing and classroom capacity. Our school district prioritizes the enrollment of resident students, who live in St. Anthony-New Brighton School District, throughout the year.

However, if space exists in a particular grade level, there is a lottery process school districts are required to follow to accept an open enrollment student.

St. Anthony - New Brighton Schools is made up up 74% resident students and 26% open enrolled students.

Each year, Director of Finance Phan Tu and District Accountant Taylor Freund conduct an audit of St. Anthony - New Brighton School’s finances. When looking at the budget, there are multiple funds, the biggest being the general fund which includes general operating (fund 01), transportation (fund 03) and capital (fund 05). 

In the 2021-22 general fund audit:

• 76.8% of the total general fund expenditures (general operating, transportation, operating capital and student activities fund) were for salaries/benefits

• 6% of the total general fund salaries/benefits were Admin

• 2% of the total general fund salaries/benefits were for district support services

In the 2021-22 general operating (fund 01) audit:

• Total Salary/Benefits = 88.95% of Fund 01

  • 56% of Fund 1 salary and benefits are allotted to teachers only. 

• Admin (directors, Principals/AP) salary/benefits = 7.35% of general salary/benefits

• Coordinators salary/benefits = 5.91% of general salary/benefits

• School Board = .20% of general salary/benefits

School districts are people-driven and it takes staff salaries and benefits to recruit, hire and retain good teachers for our students. 

If approved, the levy funds will go directly towards increasing teacher and staff salaries and benefits, in order to remain competitive with other school districts. 

If approved, the capital project levy will be in place for 10 years, through the 2033-34 school year.

This image shows the tax impact summary for both questions. Question 2 is highlighted in yellow. The “Existing Authority” column (negative numbers in red) will show an estimate of what amount district residents are currently paying for the Capital Projects Levy. 

Additional funds would be provided to replace and update technology equipment, learning resources and curriculum. 

The district will have to adjust our budget when it comes to updating and maintaining technology equipment and curriculum materials. Without a dedicated funding source for these materials, there is a risk that resources and infrastructure could fall behind.

If Question 2 doesn't pass, taxpayers would see a reduction in their taxes payable in 2025, which would translate to an average reduction of $231 annually for the average St. Anthony home valued at $375,861.

There will be no increase or change in property taxes for the approval of Question 2. This is a continuation of the capital project levy that was approved in 2014.

The Capital Projects funds between $850,000 and $900,000 per year for 10 years, which could increase or decrease based on taxes.

If Question 2 is not approved, the funding for Capital Projects would need to be braided with other funding sources.