Schools
A Primer: IGH Community Schools Technology Levy Special Election
Inver Grove district residents are being asked to vote a new $700,000 per-year capital levy for technology. Election day is March 27.
For the second time in less than five months, the Inver Grove Heights school district will ask residents to approve a $700,000 per-year levy to pay for technology.
On March 27, residents can vote on a 10-year capital levy that Inver Grove Heights Community Schools leaders say would “raise funds for server costs, software and technology, and the support and maintenance of technology.” Property owners would paying the levy in 2013.
Voters on defeated a similar levy request, 2,025 votes to 1,646.
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The Board of Education to move forward with another levy election.
Right now, the district pays for technology-related costs—equipment replacements, maintenance, licensing, upgrades and TIES applications, such as administrative software, information systems, webpages and hosting—from the general fund. Those expenses this year, according to district officials, will total more than $1 million.
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District leaders say levy proceeds would help pay for those expenses, thus freeing money in the general fund for other uses.
If its technology levy is approved, Inver Grove Heights would join other local districts like South St. Paul, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan and South Washington County that have capital levies that help play technology-related costs.
HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST?
Homeowners: If the technology levy is approved, the owner of a home with a market value of $100,000 would pay $22 more in taxes each year. The owner of a home valued at $200,000 would pay $56 more in taxes each year. The owner of a home valued at $300,000 will pay $90 more in taxes each year.
Commercial/Industrial: If the technology levy is approved, the owner of commercial or industrial property valued at $200,000 would pay $61 more in taxes each year. The owner of property valued at $500,000 would pay $174 more per year. The owner of property valued at $1 million would pay $362 more per year.
Multi-Tenant Dwellings: If the technology levy is approved, the owner of apartments or other residential non-homestead property valued at $150,000 would pay $58 more in taxes each year. The owner of property valued at $300,000 would pay $116 more in taxes each year. The owner of property valued at $500,000 would pay $193 more each year.
The school district’s tax impact table is available by clicking here. Note: The tax impacts listed on that table are per month.
IMPACT OF THE LEVY
The school district, according to the ISD 199’s Proposed Technology Levy FAQ Sheet, says levy proceeds would be used in the following areas:
• Additions and replacements for student and staff devices/workstation
• Replacement and consolidation of shared resources such as copiers, printers, multifunction devices
• Replacement and consolidation of shared resources such as network storage
• Additions and replacements for projectors and/or classroom sound systems
• Additions to our wireless network whereccapacity issues evolve
• Additions and replacements for state-mandated online testing stations
• Technology in the curriculum cycle
• Additions and updates to software licensing, online subscriptions
• Increased Internet bandwidth
WHAT ABOUT IPADS?
According to the Pioneer Press, Inver Grove Heights Community Schools already has about 750 iPads, the popular Apple tablet computing device that's increasingly finding its way into classrooms.
Concerning the potential use of levy money to buy additional mobile computers, the district—on the ISD 199’s Proposed Technology Levy FAQ Sheet—says:
“Because mobile technology is still relatively new, there could be something around the corner that we will have to monitor. We will continue to add/replace desktop workstations as needed. Some workstations may be replaced by mobile devices if it makes sense to do so. The district will reconvene the district technology committee, which includes staff, students, parents and community members to make recommendations to the school board about technology decisions.”
MORE LEVY INFORMATION
The Inver Grove Heights district has additional technology levy information on its website, including:
• Tax impact of proposed technology levy
• 2011-12 levy revenue comparison
WHERE TO VOTE
Residents of Inver Grove Heights precincts 1, 5, 8, 9 and 10; and South St. Paul Ward 2 Precinct 3 and Ward 3 Precinct 5 will vote at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2075 70th St. E., Inver Grove Heights.
Residents of Inver Grove Heights precincts 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, and Rosemount Precinct 2 will vote at Good Shepherd Church, 7600 Cahill Ave., Inver Grove Heights.
Also, residents can visit the Secretary of State website to find the correct polling place.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.