A Guide to the Richfield Referendum Proposals

*** See Richfield Patch's Election Guide for more information on local, state and national races, as well as ballot questions and candidate profiles. ***

With the current referendum set to expire at the end of the 2012-13 school year, the Richfield School Board has prepared two questions for voters.

The first question will ask voters if they would like to renew the existing levy. If the renewal passes, there will be no additional property tax increase, as there are no additional funds requested.

The second question, however, will ask voters if they would support a roughly $60 increase in per pupil spending if the renewal passes. This would result in a property tax increase of $16 per year for the average homeowner. The $16 figure was calculated by using the average home value in Richfield, which is $169,022.

The following is a collection of Richfield Patch articles and links detailing the proposed levy:

The Rundown

Following a presentation by Richfield Superintendent Bob Slotterback, Patch put together a rundown of the proposed ballot questions:

• A Rundown of the Proposed Richfield Referendum

Failure in 2011

After conducting two voter surveys, the school board was confident its 2011 proposal would pass. However, it was voted down.

• Richfield Votes Against Referendum
• Patch Facebook Fans Get Heated Over Referendum 'Failure'
• Election Victories Stifled By Failure of Referendum

Preparing the Questions

After the failure of the 2011 levy, the school board went to work on creating a new proposal:

• Richfield School Board Considers Referendum Renewal
• UPDATED: School Board Proposes Two Referendum Questions For 2012 Ballot

School Finance

Patch looked in to how the Richfield Public Schools District makes and spends its money:

School Finance 101: How Does Richfield Make Its Money?

Voters Speak Out

Patch has received a handful of Letter to the Editor in support of the referendum. No letters opposing the measure were submitted:

• Best School Option Equals Sheridan Hills; Vote 'Yes' to Referendum: Letter to the Editor
• Letter: Vote 'Yes' on Referendum and Reaffirm What Richfield Stands For
• Former Richfield Superintendent Urges Voters to Vote 'Yes' on Proposed Referendum

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More Election Guides:

• A Guide to the 2012 Richfield City Council Races
• A Guide to the Minnesota 5th Congressional District Race
• A Guide to the Minnesota Marriage Amendment
• A Guide to the Minnesota Voter ID Amendment