School referendum ballot change would remove notice of taxation

When a voter casts a ballot for a levy or bond referendum, they also get a bit of education about how it could affect their pocketbook.

By statute, if a county, city, town, school district, or other special taxing district asks voters to authorize “a property tax levy or tax rate increase, including the issuance of debt obligations payable in whole or in part from property taxes” the following message must appear on the ballot in bold face: "BY VOTING "YES" ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE."

Rep. Bianca Virnig

Rep. Bianca Virnig (DFL-Eagan) sponsors HF3798 to see the statement disappear from school referendum questions.

“This ballot language is a bit one-sided, and it doesn’t inform voters that if you vote no, X, Y and Z may happen, such as close schools, cut bus routes and increase class sizes,” said Virnig, a former school board member.

Amended to change a date, the bill was held over Wednesday by the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee for further consideration.

Hibbing School Board Treasurer Kim McLaughlin believes transparency without accuracy can be misleading to voters.

“This bill does not remove transparency. Districts will still be required to provide the required notices, individualized calculators and truth in taxation statements. What the bill removes is a sentence that can unintentionally mischaracterize the real tax impact for everyday people,” she said.

Rep. Joe McDonald (R-Delano) said he isn’t sure how to vote on the issue, but he and McLaughlin acknowledge the change would put more of an onus on voters to be informed when casting a ballot.

“If people are not aware that their property tax will increase by voting for a levy, then they will get what they deserve, and maybe that’s a good thing,” McDonald said. “Maybe when they get their property tax the following year they’ll be like, ’Goodness, what happened?’ They should have paid attention to local politics, especially school elections and referenda.”