Rural Minnesota voters in 43 school districts on Tuesday approved bond referendums or operating referendum increases. Five of those communities approved both a bond referendum and operating referendum increase at the same time. This represents a 84 percent passage rate, the highest in recent history.
Bond referendums, in particular, saw an overall increase in passage rates. In 21 of 25 communities, voters approved at least one bond referendum question for a 84 percent overall passage rate across Greater Minnesota.
“The 84% passage rate is a strong endorsement of our rural Minnesota schools and the increase demonstrates that a greater state share of these local taxpayer costs matters,” MREA Executive Director Fred Nolan said.
While each community was faced with a different question, the one change from 2018 was the increase in the Ag2School bond tax credit to farmers and timber land owners from 40 percent to 50 percent with a schedule to go to 70 percent.
“Without the Ag2School credit, this [voter approval] would not have been possible,” said Aaron Cook, Superintendent of Ada Borup. Ag2School was a signature effort of MREA and multiple state agriculture organizations in the 2017 and 2019 legislative sessions.
During the November 2018 election, Greater Minnesota voters approved 13 of 19 bond requests (68%), and only 8 of 19 Operating Referendum increases (42%). Learn more about 2018 results.
Bond Referendums
Passed Bond Referendum 11/5/19 |
Failed Bond Referendum 11/5/19 |
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| ISD # | District Name | ISD # | District Name |
| 2854 | Ada-Borup | 2908 | Brandon-Evansville |
| 726 | Becker | 600 | Fisher |
| 2364 | Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa | 2365 | G.F.W. |
| 593 | Crookston | 332 | Mora |
| 182 | Crosby-Ironton | ||
| 2164 | Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton | ||
| 423 | Hutchinson | ||
| 2895 | Jackson County Central | ||
| 2853 | Lac Qui Parle Valley | ||
| 465 | Litchfield Q1 | ||
| 2180 | M.A.C.C.R.A.Y. | ||
| 152 | Moorhead | ||
| 761 | Owatonna | ||
| 547 | Parkers Prairie | ||
| 630 | Red Lake Falls | ||
| 47 | Sauk Rapids-Rice | ||
| 858 | St. Charles | ||
| 486 | Swanville | ||
| 435 | Waubun-Ogema-White Earth | ||
| 518 | Worthington | ||
| 2805 | Zumbrota-Mazeppa | ||
Operating Referendums
In 22 of 26 rural communities at least one operating referendum revenue increase question was approved, achieving over a 84 percent passage rate. This is also the highest achieved in recent history. The 2019 legislature enacted a small increase in the operating referendum equalization, which MREA advocated for in 2019.
An additional six districts were seeking operating referendum renewals that routinely pass.
Passed Op Referendum Increases 11/5/19 |
Failed Op Referendum Increases 11/5/19 |
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| ISD # | District Name | ISD # | District Name |
| 152 | Adrian | 2860 | Blue Earth Area |
| 206 | Alexandria | 2687 | Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted |
| 726 | Becker | 2172 | Kenyon-Wanamingo |
| 2364 | Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa | 306 | Laporte |
| 2534 | Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian | ||
| 877 | Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose | ||
| 514 | Ellsworth | ||
| 656 | Faribault | ||
| 2859 | Glencoe-Silver Lake | ||
| 2886 | Glenville-Emmons | ||
| 2137 | Kingsland | ||
| 465 | Litchfield | ||
| 497 | Lyle | ||
| 2180 | M.A.C.C.R.A.Y. | ||
| 912 | Milaca | ||
| 548 | Pelican Rapids | ||
| 748 | Sartell-St. Stephen | ||
| 743 | Sauk Centre | ||
| 534 | Stewartville | ||
| 486 | Swanville | ||
| 2125 | Triton | ||
| 458 | Truman | ||
