Saint Paul, Minn ‒ Voters approved the Saint Paul Public Schools request for additional school funding through an operating levy (the latest results available on the Minnesota Secretary of State website).
The operating levy increase will generate an additional $475 per student, resulting in approximately $18.6 million in additional school funding each year starting in school year 2019-20 and continuing for ten years. Operating levies provide critical funding support for classrooms, instruction and other operating costs. The request to voters was in response to increasing student needs, state funding that has not kept pace with inflation, special education costs that are not fully reimbursed, and increasing educational costs that exceed available revenue.
“We are very grateful to Saint Paul residents for approving our funding request,” said Superintendent Joe Gothard. “This vote shows that our community supports public education and knows we are stronger when we put students and schools first. ”
The additional funding will help SPPS:
- Invest more in schools and student needs at all grade levels
- Implement the district’s SPPS Achieves Strategic Plan to increase achievement for all students
- Increase mental health and social-emotional learning support for students
- Create middle schools designed to meet the academic and developmental needs of this age group and set them on a solid path for high school and beyond
- Limit additional budget cuts
Even though Saint Paul is the state’s second largest district, it had one of the lowest voter-approved operating levies among the state’s largest districts and its neighbors. With the levy increase approved by voters, Saint Paul’s levy will now be just above the metro average.
More background on the referendum request is available at spps.org/referendum2018.
