Levy for learning on the ballot this fall

The school board of Spring Lake Park Schools has placed an operating levy referendum question on the ballot this fall to maintain essentials for learning.

“This isn’t something we do often in Spring Lake Park Schools,” wrote Superintendent Jeff Ronneberg and School Board Chairperson Tony Easter in a message to families. “We haven’t needed new operating dollars until now thanks to enrollment growth and strategic, responsible management.”

Right now, out of 37 metro districts, Spring Lake Park Schools’ voter-approved operating levy dollars are the lowest.

This graphic shows the 37 school districts in the 7-county metro and their current voter-approved operating levy dollars. Spring Lake Park Schools’ existing operating levy is the lowest at $194 per student.

“We’ve built a lot with a little. We’ve developed new, engaging student programs and improved class sizes over the last 13 years,” says Jeff.

This year, district leaders watched just about every district around face budget cuts. Spring Lake Park Schools continues to provide effective student programming and remains one of the few districts that have not had to make reductions.

“We are finally reaching a tipping point where new community investment is needed to maintain essentials for learning and keep what we’ve built,” says Jeff. “These funds are needed now to help us maintain our teachers and staff, current academic programs and support, critical safety and security infrastructure, and school facilities.”

The funds would also support enhancements to career preparation – specifically the district’s Career and College Pathways – as well as building on the 51 college credit offerings at the high school. In a spring survey of 400 community members, these specific areas were highlighted as being very important.  

What's on the ballot

There is one question on the November 4, 2025 ballot with two steps.

The first step increases the operating levy by $550 per student starting in 2026 with a tax impact of less than $18/month on an average home value of $350,000.

The second step increases the operating levy by an additional $380 starting in 2029 to bring the total levy amount to $930. The district has timed this step to happen at the same time as school district debt from past building bonds is expiring. This means there is no new net tax impact to taxpayers with this step.

“The question on the ballot was designed to generate needed funding for our schools, while at the same time minimizing impact on our taxpayers,” says Jeff.

If approved, the district’s voter-approved operating levy support would become comparable to some neighboring district’s current operating levies.

This graphic shows how the Spring Lake Park Schools operating levy compares to neighbors and similar districts today and where it would stand in 2026 and in 2029 if the operating levy is approved.  

The voter-approved operating levy was last increased in 2002. Since then, voters have approved capital projects and building bonds but have not increased the operating levy.

“We’re proud of what we’ve built with our community and with much less than others,” says Jeff. “We’re also proud of how we’ve built it – through a history of fiscal responsibility and an ongoing commitment to being excellent stewards of the resources entrusted to us. We take our community’s investments very seriously.”

Check out this video to hear from a variety of voices and see the details. 

Early voting starts September 19

Voting before Tuesday, November 4 

In-Person (Beginning Friday, Sept. 19) 
Anoka County Government Center - 2100 3rd Ave, Anoka, MN 55303,
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday

Mail, Email or Fax: Find or request an absentee ballot at the Anoka County Elections website

Paper applications can be returned via:

• Mail: Anoka County Elections - 2100 3rd Avenue, Suite 160, Anoka, MN 55303
• Email: Send to elections@anokacountymn.gov
• Fax: 763-324-1160

Voting on Tuesday, November 4

Polls will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Blaine Residents
National Sports Center - Welcome Center
1705 105th Ave NE
Blaine, MN 55449 Fridley and

Fridley and Spring Lake Park Residents
Grace Evangelical Free Church
755 73rd Ave NE
Fridley, MN 55432

Find more information about the levy, a tax calculator and voting details at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Levy2025