A look at local referendum results: A split result in St. Paul and a boost for some Minnesota schools

Various local referendums across the state were in front of Minnesota voters Tuesday. 

Some significant ballot measures passed, including one in St. Paul that will switch local odd-year elections to even years and a Minneapolis Public Schools technology levy increase. Meanwhile, St. Paul voters shot down a child care tax proposal that the city’s mayor strongly opposed, saying it over-promised and would have under-delivered.

Here’s more on what happened: 

St. Paul 

St. Paul voters voted against a referendum that would have given the mayor the ability to employ an early child care tax that could have ramped up to $20 million per year up to $110 million over a decade. The initiative was defeated with nearly 60% “no” votes. 

Even if voters had passed it, Mayor Melvin Carter had said he would not have implemented the levy increase. Carter said the ballot language was misleading because the amount of money raised by the levy wouldn’t be enough to cover everything outlined in it for all low-income families.

The second ballot initiative in front of St. Paul voters did pass. It will take St. Paul’s odd-year city elections and move them to even years. The initiative passed 61%-39%. Advocates for this move said it would capture more voters during higher voter turnout years while also eliminating some city spending related to off-year elections. Opponents have pointed out that, under current state law, the move would eliminate ranked-choice voting. They also have said it would dilute the focus odd-year elections bring to local issues.

Schools 

There were 54 referendums by state school districts asking voters to increase funding by approving local tax levies or increased tax levies. Of those, 31 passed and 23 failed. 

Among these initiatives approved was an increase to a Minneapolis Public School technology levy. Voters passed a $20 million increase that will bring the levy to a total of $38 million over the next 10 years. The initiative was approved 66%-34%. 

School officials have said the original levy does not cover all of the district’s technology expenditures and that the district has pulled from its general fund in the past to offset that. With an expanded tax, the district says it can use the general fund dollars otherwise used on technology for other purposes, including operations.

In a Q&A with MinnPost earlier this year, Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams said the levy would be a “big part” of the district’s budget strategy.

Winter Keefer

Winter Keefer is MinnPost’s Metro reporter. Follow her on Twitter or email her at wkeefer@minnpost.com.

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