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MINNEOTA -- Voters in the Minneota School District have approved a referendum that will change how the district handles technology funding. Minneota Superintendent Scott Monson said both questions on the ballot in a Tuesday special election passed.
"We're grateful for everyone who was able to come out and vote," Monson said.
According to unofficial vote results, more than 300 people cast ballots in the Minneota referendum. Question One of the referendum, which would authorize the school district to issue up to $2.45 million in general obligation bonds for the next eight years, passed with 324 "yes" votes to 57 "no" votes.
Question Two, which would revoke Minneota's current technology levy and replace it with a smaller levy, passed with 332 "yes" votes and 48 "no" votes.
The technology levy is used to pay for technology needs in the Minneota district, including student devices, computer software, and some technology staff costs.
Monson said the overall effect of the referendum will be to ease the tax burden on agricultural landowners by making part of the technology levy eligible for the Ag2School tax credit. The Ag2School credit is only applicable to bonded debt, Monson said.
Because of Tuesday's referendum, Minneota will be able to replace its current technology levy, which generates about $500,000 a year, with a smaller levy that would generate about $250,000 a year. With the bonds approved in Question One of the referendum also generating about $250,000 a year, Minneota schools can keep technology funding at the same level, with less impact on ag land, Monson said.
Monson said he was thankful for voters' support of the referendum.
"Our school board and our district will continue to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars," he said.