2023 Referendum Information
Two ballot questions.
One commitment to support Richfield students.
Learn About our 2023 Levy Questions
The Richfield School Board voted to hold a referendum this fall to ask voters to renew and increase local funding to support student learning. There are two questions on the ballot.
Question 1: Renew the existing technology levy.
This levy is the primary source of funding for technology in our district. It expires at the end of this school year and must be renewed by voters in the November 2023 election or the District will need to face more than $4 million in budget cuts. We are asking to renew the levy at the same rate. This local levy started in 2003 and was renewed by voters in 2013. The technology levy helps:
- Personalize instruction
- Provide real-world simulations for science
- Enhance student achievement
- Prepare students for a rapidly changing world
- Provide equitable access to schoolwork from anywhere, at any time
- Make school operations more efficient
- Enhance security for people, property and data
Question 2: Revoke and replace the existing operating referendum to be more equitable with neighboring districts.
Richfield voters have long supported our students and schools with a local operating referendum. The operating referendum was last approved in 2017. However, it generates about half the amount per student than what most districts receive. We are asking local voters for an increase to:
- Ensure more equitable funding
- Maintain small class sizes
- Personalize learning
- Support students who struggle (academically and social-emotionally)
- Stabilize school funding for the future
Ensure Equitable Funding for Richfield Students
Richfield voters have long supported our students with a local operating referendum. The operating referendum was last approved in 2017. However, it generates about half the amount per student that most districts receive. We are asking local voters for an increase.
- To ensure more equitable funding
- To maintain small class sizes
- To personalize learning
- To support students who struggle (academically and social-emotionally)
- To stabilize school funding for the future
Our Financial Future Without the Levies
To maintain current services and programs without the renewed technology levy or operating levy increase, we will be deficit spending and reducing programs starting next school year. We are currently projecting the variance between revenues and expenditures to accrue between $3-4 million each year. (The revenue projected here includes new funding from the state.)
Declining Revenue
- The current technology referendum, which has provided more than $4 million per year, expires at the end of this school year. The technology levy is the primary source of funding for the technology needs in our schools.
- Federal funds, including COVID-19 funding and a literacy grant, which have provided $3.5-$5 million annually in the past few years, expire at the end of this school year. These funds were used to lower class sizes, provide social-emotional and academic support for students, and student-family engagement and improved literacy instruction and support.
Increased Expenses
- At the same time, expenditures are anticipated to increase in all areas due to inflation, including pay increases, utilities and day-to-day materials.