Leader Staff
Tigerton School District is asking voters to approve a referendum Tuesday to override the state-imposed revenue cap and allow the district to collect $1.5 million to $1.6 million in local taxes over the next five years.
If the referendum were to fail, Tigerton schools could be forced to close their doors in about three years, district officials said. Other options include ending all art, music, agriculture and technical education classes, combining grades and eliminating all sports programs.
The referendum would keep property tax rates at the current level, $12.76 per $1,000 of equalized valuation, which means the owner of a $100,000 home would continue to pay $1,276 in school taxes in 2016 and 2017. The tax rate would drop to $12.63 in 2018 and $12.31 in 2020.
Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Tigerton, Morris, Caroline, Germania and Split Rock. Residents of the towns of Fairbanks and Wyoming will vote in Split Rock, and town of Seneca residents will vote in Morris.