C-I decides on Dec. 16 vote

Residents in the Crosby-Ironton School District will be going to the polls Dec. 16 to be asked to support an increase in the district's general education revenue of up to $604 per pupil unit.

The Crosby-Ironton School Board agreed Monday to hold an operating fund referendum election in December after tabling action last week to hold a referendum in November.

The board agreed to ask for an increase in revenue over a 10-year period. Voters will be asked three questions. Residents first will be asked to support a $404 per pupil increase for operating funds. This would help move C-I out of statutory operating debt and would minimize the number of budget cuts in the coming school years. If this question passes, the district would receive $671,912 in revenue per year.

Residents also will be asked to support two separate $100 per pupil unit increases. One of the $100 per pupil unit increases would be used to finance technology. The second one would be used to finance school textbooks and other curriculum materials. The district would receive $175,783 per year for 10 years if a $100 per pupil unit increase is approved.

"Questions Two and Three will assist us in funding these important areas and will help us alleviate stress in the operating capital fund," said C-I Superintendent Linda Lawrie. "It also will allow us to finance significant future facilities projects, such as re-roofing Cuyuna Range Elementary School."

C-I Business Manager Bill Tollefson said Question Two and Three would not affect the general operating budget. He said if these two questions would not pass the district most likely would not be able to purchase the items specified and the long overdue capital equipment projects may not get done.

Tollefson said if the $404 per pupil unit referendum passes, the district would be out of statutory operating debt by the 2004-05 school year and have an unreserved general fund balance of $466,082. At the end of the 2002-03 school year the district had a negative fund balance of $689,710.

If the $404 per pupil unit referendum passes, a homeowner with a $100,000 market value home would see a $77 increase in its 2004 school portion of property taxes. If the two other questions pass, the same homeowner would see another $64 increase -- for a $141 total increase in their school portion of property taxes.

Polling hours for the election will be noon to 8 p.m.