Pine River-Backus to ask voters to approve referendum

When voters head to the polls Nov. 8, a few area school districts will be seeking to pass bond referendums. The districts include Pine River-Backus, Onamia and Remer-Longville.

Pine River-Backus voters will be asked to approve three questions. The first question must be approved by voters in order for the second question to be approved. If the second question fails to pass, the third question won't pass either, regardless of the votes.

The first question will ask voters to approve a general education fund increase of $600 per pupil to be used to finance school operations, including maintaining current academic programs and opportunities to ensure reasonable class sizes.

The second question proposes a project using general obligation bonds not to exceed $5 million that involves improvements to various school district sites and facilities including replacing windows and boiler; installing energy-efficient electrical systems; remodeling and updating science labs, vocational classrooms and other classrooms; and upgrading Pine River Elementary School to meet current safety and security standards.

The third question involves using general obligation bonds not to exceed $7 million to add an auditorium to the commons area between the high school and elementary school with instructional space for band and choir, adding an additional vocational classroom, a multipurpose activity room, a weight room and a wrestling room to the high school and remodeling the existing band and choir rooms.

Both proposed projects were reviewed and received positive comments from the commissioner of education.

Polling hours are from 3-8 p.m. Tuesday at eight sites, including Maple Township, Ansel Township, Bull Moose Township, Backus Elementary, Pine River Elementary, Ponto Lake Town Hall, all in Cass County; and Timothy Town Hall and Fifty Lakes City Hall, both in Crow Wing County.

Pine River-Backus property owners may find property tax information and how the district's proposed referendum will affect their property taxes posted on the school district's Web site, www.prbackus. k12.mn.us.

Onamia School District voters will be asked to pass an operating levy referendum that requests a $450 per pupil increase in general education revenue applicable for 10 years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.

The Remer-Longville School District will seek a school building bond referendum, not to exceed $12.2 million, to provide funds for the acquisition of school sites and facilities and for the renovation, equipping and improvements to Northland High School and two other district sites and facilities, along with the replacement of the heating system at Longville Elementary School.

JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.