School District of Osseo-Fairchild Asking Residents to Approve Operational Referendum

Monday, March 25th, 2024 -- 3:01 PM

The School District of Osseo-Fairchild will be asking residents living within the District to pass an operational referendum on the April 2nd ballot.

The District is in their eighth year of depending on operating referendums to help cover overall costs. The District passed a successful referendum in 2020 for operating costs that ends this year. The proposed operational referendum would replace that, resulting in a minimal tax increase for residents.

The District is asking to exceed revenue limits by $1,600,000 for the 2024-2025 school year, by $2,000,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, by $2,400,000 for the 2026-2027 school year and by $2,800,000 for the 2027-2028 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational, capital maintenance and facility improvement expenses.

The impact on local taxes will vary based on state aid and assessed property values, with an estimated average increase of $1.50/month or $18/year per $100,000 of property value over the four-year period.

This is because $975,000 of the proposed referendum is replacing their current referendum. The District's current debt is scheduled to drop off in alignment with this referendum. A recent audit of Osseo-Fairchild School District facilities identified maintenance needs totaling nearly $2 million.

The proposed referendum allocates $1 million over the next four years to help address the following issues including:

Improve the security of entrances;

Install additional security cameras;

Enhance exterior lighting in parking lots;

Replace water heaters and HVAC equipment;

Implement chemical storage exhaust;

Address interior and exterior masonry in the community gym;

Make sidewalk improvements;

And remodel the bathroom and replace fuel pumps at the bus garage.

The District secured a $500,000 federal safety grant to help with the costs of exterior lighting, fencing and security cameras. If the referendum is rejected, $1.6 million in cuts are needed, which also reduces state funding, resulting in higher local taxes next year.

This decreased state aid is redirected to other districts, leaving less for Osseo-Fairchild children and the community.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.