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Referendum 2023

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SUPPORTING TODAY'S STUDENTS.
BUILDING TOMORROW'S LEADERS.

Brooklyn Center Community Schools ISD #286 will hold a one-question referendum election that will allow voters to consider an increase to the district’s current operating levy. Operating levies are used for day-to-day operations of the district including teaching and learning.

Question 1 proposes to increase the district’s operating levy by $300 per student.

The current local operating levy generates $583,360 (1.6% of the district’s annual operating revenue) and is used to fund the general operations of the district, including but not limited recruiting and retention of high-quality staff members. The tax impact for the approval of Question 1 will be about $15 per month for a home valued at $286,000 (equal to $175 annually).



Why is it Needed & How will it Benefit Kids?

At Brooklyn Center Community Schools, we are committed to our vision of becoming a justice-centered school community with a focus on meeting the needs of each student. The proposed levy would provide funding to support the following areas:

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Maintain or Reduce Current Class Sizes 

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Retain and Attract High-Quality Staff

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Enhance Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Support for Students

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Provide Greater Financial Stability and Limit Future Budget Reductions



What is the cost?

If the operating levy passes, property owners can expect a slight increase in their annual taxes.

This increase in property taxes would generate an estimated additional $686,820 to the district’s annual revenue (increasing total operating referendum revenue to $1,279,000 per year). Funds would be spent directly on impacting the student experience in our district including but not limited recruiting and retention of high-quality staff members, programming, and additional support for student wellbeing.  

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For example:

  • If approved, homeowners with an estimated market value of $200,000 would pay an annual increase of $122, or an increase of about $10 per month.

  • If approved, the average home value in the district of $286,000 would see an annual increase of $175, or an increase of about $15 a month.

  • If approved, homeowners with an estimated market value of $350,000 would see an annual increase of $214, or an increase of about $18 a month.



Frequently Asked Questions

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How Can I Vote?

Register to Vote

Election day is November 7, 2023. Residents of Brooklyn Center Community Schools’ District can register to vote or update their voter registration now. Click here to learn how to register or check your voter registration status.
 

Early Voting/Vote Absentee

Early voting begins on September 22, 2023. Click here to learn how to vote absentee.
 

Election Day

If you are voting in-person on November 7, 2023, click here to find your polling place.

 

Sample Ballot

Click here to view a sample ballot. 

Have questions?

Contact Brooklyn Center Community Schools!

Email: referendum@bccs286.org

Phone: 612-440-1454



What if the referendum is not approved?

If the district’s proposed operating levy increase is not approved, the district will face some tough decisions. With potential cuts, the BCCS may not be able to maintain current class sizes and have to decrease services and programs to support the social, emotional, and mental health of students. This would cause class sizes to grow and decrease access to mental health services at school.

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The district will experience additional budget cuts for the 2024-2025 school year which may cause further staffing and programming cuts. These types of reductions will affect the students’ experience in the classroom and access to student programs outside of the school day as the district reduces its operating budget.