Vote 2025 - Rockford Area School District 883

Like many districts in Minnesota, Rockford is facing a fiscal crisis that threatens to raise class sizes next year and for the near future. As a result, residents will be asked this fall to approve an operating levy and capital projects levy.

The Proposal

Question 1: Class Sizes

If successful, the operating levy request would provide an additional $1 million annually for 10 years, and would represent a monthly tax increase of about $17 for owners of a median-valued home in our district. Source: Ehlers Public Finance Advisors

A successful operating levy will continue to maintain current class sizes for the next five years.
In addition, the district can maintain current levels of funding to provide stability in activity fees, middle school co-curricular programming and staffing levels for school support staff and central office staff.

Question 2: School Safety

If successful, the capital projects levy request would provide an additional $250,000 annually for 10 years, and would represent a monthly tax increase of about $4 for owners of a median-valued home in our district. Source: Ehlers Public Finance Advisors

A successful capital projects levy will improve school security.
Technology security improvements will include expanded security camera coverage, updated visitor management systems, an enhanced 911 system and continued cybersecurity programs to protect student data.

Question 2 can only pass if Question 1 is approved.

When school districts face a budget shortfall, the options are to make budget cuts and/or ask voters to increase local revenues through a levy referendum election. More than 90% of Minnesota school districts—including Rockford Area Schools—rely on local operating levies to help fund basic costs.

The Challenges

Rockford Area Schools is known for doing more with less and this includes “running lean” and stretching our financial resources as far as any district. We remain very proud of this and promise and commit to continuing this strong financial stewardship. However, with a projected budget shortfall due a lack of state funding for general and special education, decreased spending power due to inflation, and increased needs from students across all of our schools, funds are needed to preserve and provide the tools necessary to maintain safe, secure schools and to ensure our instructional and operational infrastructure are on par with neighboring districts.

The Ongoing Funding Gap

For decades, state education funding has not kept pace with inflation and the cost of educating our students. If education funding had kept pace with inflation, our schools would have $2 million more in buying power every year—the equivalent of up to 29 more teachers in our classrooms today!

The Cost

Approve an approximately $600 per-student operating levy increase. The additional funds will enable the district to invest in safety and security measures, maintain and enhance tools that are vital to teaching and learning, and strengthen our aging infrastructure. By providing additional funds to support technology, it will free-up general fund dollars to support our students in other ways, including maintaining class size and the maintenance of our facilities.

If both questions were approved, property taxes would increase around $20.91 per month for the average-priced $400,000 home in our area ($251 per year).

Tax Impact: Lower Than Almost All Metro Districts

For a home value of $375,000 (the average home value in our school district). According to the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD), Rockford Area Schools has lower total school property taxes than almost all districts in the Twin Cities. Of the 44 metropolitan school districts in AMSD, Rockford Area Schools ranks #38 in total school property taxes, over $1,068 less, per pupil, than the metropolitan average and $600 less than the state average. By approving this capital projects (technology levy), Rockford Area Schools would not surpass, but simply move close to the state average. To see additional districts click here.

Financial Accountability

Rockford Area Schools spends 30% less than the metro average on all forms of administration costs—things that students don’t directly see. And the money we save is money we put into the classrooms.
Rockford Area Schools prides itself on directing our financial resources to our most important people, our students! Over the past two years, we have reduced administrative costs, and positions, and have done much more with less. The visual to the right details the percentages of dollars spent in the various areas of our school district.

Strong Community Support

Our community recognizes the value our schools and staff bring to our community. A recent community survey of Rockford Area Schools families shows...

Would Recommend our Schools to a Friend or Neighbor.

Believe RAS Provides a Welcoming Environment.

Believe RAS Provides an Excellent or Good Value for their Investment.

The Investment | Tax Impact

Use the tax calculator, created by Ehlers, the district's independent municipal advisor.

Where and When Can I Vote?

Election Day Voting

Tuesday, November 4
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

To find your polling location visit
https://pollfinder.sos.mn.gov/

MN Secretary of State Election Information

Absentee Voting

September 19 through November 3

Wright County Government Center
3650 Braddock Ave NE
Buffalo, MN 55313

** Hennepin County City of Rockford Only**
Hennepin County Government Center
300 S 6th St, Skyway Level
Minneapolis, MN 55487

FAQs

WHY NOW?

Our schools are facing a critical funding shortage that will soon impact our ability to offer the programs and services that are vital to the education of our children. Previous reductions impacted central office and support staff positions and while we have been able to avoid cuts at the classroom level, this will no longer be possible without additional financial support.

To avoid cuts in 2025-2026, the Board of Education authorized the use of our fund balance, reducing the fund balance by $400,000. While this will allow classroom and program stability in 2025-2026, the continued utilization of our fund balance is not sustainable.

The projected fiscal shortfall for 2026-2027 is $801,735 and that number increases to a projected shortfall of $1,319,697 in 2027-2028. With personnel costs accounting for approximately 80+% of our annual budget, cuts to teaching faculty (resulting in increased class size) will be unavoidable.

In addition, our technology infrastructure continues to deteriorate as our servers, telephones, and safety and security systems have become older, and in many cases, obsolete.

With the passage of the two questions on the November 4th General Election ballot, we will be able to maintain class size, restore essential infrastructure components, and provide exceptional programs and educational offerings for our students and families.

HOW DOES ROCKFORD RANK IN COMPARISON TO OUR NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS?

Rockford ranks below both the state average and local average in terms of levy revenue. Rockford is $689.94 per pupil behind the state average and $1,170.48 behind the local average. In addition, our local levy revenue accounts for 6% of our annual operating budget while the state average is 9.0%. The passage of both questions would allow Rockford to move closer to the state average.

WHY DO WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO OUR NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHEN WE ARE SMALLER?

It’s simple, costs for items such as personnel, transportation, fuel, and all other essential utilities are not defined by school district size. Costs in all areas are the same or similar and our students and families deserve the same quality of educational services as our neighbors regardless of school district size. In addition, like other industries, we compete for student enrollment and this competition comes from districts that border or are near Rockford geographically.

WHAT'S THE TAX IMPACT?

The tax impact is variable depending on the type of property (residential, commercial/industrial, or agriculture). On average, however, a residential property owner in our district would see an impact of approximately $17/month from Question #1 and $3.50 from Question #2. The impact on commercial/industrial and agricultural properties would generally be even less. Please see the graphics below and/or enter your personal address into the property tax calculator found on this webpage.

Question #1 - Operating Levy

Question #1 & #2 - Operating Levy & Capital Levy

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF VOTERS DO NOT APPROVE THE LEVY QUESTIONS??

Cuts will be inevitable. Cuts to teaching faculty, essential support personnel, as well as the likely elimination of middle school activities, and substantially higher activity fees.

We will also be unable to improve or enhance our current safety and security measures. In addition, our infrastructure will continue to age, making it significantly more challenging to continue offering the high levels of instructional and operational excellence that students, staff, and residents have come to expect.

HOW DOES THE DISTRICT SPEND MONEY FROM ITS GENERAL FUND?

80+ % of our budget is spent on teachers and other support staff salaries and benefits. These dollars directly impact student learning.

75% Student Instruction, examples include teachers (general and special education), school counselors, paraprofessionals, and substitute teachers; instructional materials, including curriculum and technology tools, and intervention programs; and, contracted services.
13% Transportation
7% District Support Services, examples include operations staff, daily maintenance, utilities, and deferred maintenance
4% District and School Administration
1% Fiscal and Other Fixed Costs, examples include property and liability insurance, and unemployment insurance

DO RENTERS HAVE TO PAY FOR A CAPITAL PROJECTS LEVY?

DOES THE DISTRICT RECEIVE TECHNOLOGY FUNDING FROM THE STATE?

WHERE AND WHEN WILL I VOTE ON THIS REQUEST?

Voters in the Rockford Area School District will be asked to go to the polls on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to vote on 2 questions, the 1st being the School District Referendum Revenue Authorization and the 2nd being a Capital Project Levy Authorization for Technology. To find your polling location visit https://pollfinder.sos.mn.gov/Default.aspx

Absentee voting begins on September 19, 2025. Any voter may vote absentee—you do not need a reason. You do not need to be registered to vote to apply for an absentee ballot. Applications available at https://mnvotes.sos.mn.gov/abrequest/index

WHAT LEVIES DOES THE DISTRICT HAVE IN PLACE?

THE DISTRICT HAS MADE SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS LATELY, HOW WERE THOSE PROJECTS FUNDED?

Because the Board of Education was very mindful of our resident tax tolerance, the decision was made to fund urgent maintenance projects (i.e., the roof at the elementary school) by borrowing against future state aid. Because this was not funded directly by a voter-approved levy increase, our operational capital is now reduced by approximately $320,000/year as we pay back these funds. This will continue until 2039 regardless of the outcome of the levy vote.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF TAXPAYER APPROVED CONSTRUCTION BONDS OR CAPITAL LEVY REQUESTS?

The last bond referendum for the District passed in November 2012. The related bonds will be paid in full on February 1, 2029. The District currently pays about $4.1 million per year on these bonds and the tax impact related to these bonds will be eliminated in early 2029.

In May 2000 the voters approved a bond issue that was sold in 2000 and matured in 2023. The final tax levy on this issuance would have occurred in 2022. The payments on the bonds from the 2012 referendum were wrapped around the payment from the 2000 bonds dropping off to significantly reduce the impact on resident taxpayers.

Resources

SAMPLE QUESTION

Early Voting

Secretary of State Early Voting

Hennepin County Voters: Hennepin County voters in the ISD 883 School District, with the exception of those in Rockford P-01 (City of Rockford, Hennepin County), can request ballots and vote early at the Wright County Government Center, while Rockford P-01 voters will have both the ISD 883 referendum and the Senate District 29 contest on their ballots and can vote at the Hennepin County Government Center.

Hennepin County Early Voting

Wright County Voters: Wright County voters residing in the ISD 883 School District will request ballots and vote early in-person at the Wright County Government Center. Voters residing in Hanover P-2 and Rockford Township P1 who reside within School District 883 will only have the ISD 883 referendum on their ballot. Voters residing in City of Rockford and Rockford Township P2 will have the ISD 883 referendum and the Senate District 29 contest on their ballot.

Wright County Early Voting