FAQs

Updated September 26, 2025

Q. How much will this project cost?

A. If the referendum is approved, the project will cost the owner of a home valued at $175,000 $15 per month in property taxes ($178/annually), which will pay for the cost of the $34.9 million project. Someone is circulating a much larger project cost number that supposedly includes the cost of the interest over the course of the term of the bond. The figure comes from a document submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education, but it also includes debt service levies for existing bonds that were previously issued, so it does not accurately reflect the proposed bond referendum amounts. It is true that the bond is a loan, and, like a home mortgage or a car loan, interest will be paid over time. That interest is factored into the estimated tax impact to homeowners, businesses, and other property owners.

Q. Can the state change the Ag2School credit?

A. In the past, landowners have questioned the sustainability of a program that provides this significant tax benefit. While the state legislature has the ability to make changes to any aspect of school funding including this program, there are a couple of factors that give us confidence that this program is here to stay. First, the program has been implemented and expanded with bipartisan support. Second, the state of Minnesota has a long history grandfathering in programs so that when funding formulas change, those school districts who currently benefit do not lose funding but it may not be available for the future. 

Q. Are there benefits to the school district from students who open-enroll in?

A. Yes, school districts benefit from open enrolled students in several key ways. State funding follows students, increasing revenue and providing budget stability, and fixed costs like heating don't increase with additional students. Districts also benefit from operational efficiency as open enrolled students help the district reach target class sizes, maximizing the use of existing facilities and staff. Attendance area students benefit from expanded program opportunities due to enrollment stability.

Q. Why is a Gymnasium needed?

A: Physical education classes are required by the Minnesota Department of Education. Physical education classes, indoor recess, after-school activities, and community events all compete for the same space, and it is booked solid. The high school gymnasium is the district’s only regulation gym, restricting the number of practices, activities, and events we can schedule. Our gymnasium provides the only safe space for indoor recess during harsh weather. Currently, our gyms cannot meet the demand for the number of activities requested.

Q. Will Career and Technical Education (CTE) be expanded?

A. Yes! We would update and renovate Career and Technical Education (CTE) facilities to expand space for the Agriculture program and add an Outdoor Classroom. Key outcomes include expanded program offerings, industry partnerships, and upgraded facilities.

Q: Does increasing funding for schools have any effect on academic outcomes?

A: The most rigorous research shows that, as scholars C. Kirabo Jacson and Claudia Persico put it, “there is a strong causal relationship between increased school spending and student achievement.” To read the scholar’s review of that research, please visit https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/pam.22520. 

Q: I don't have kids in school. Why should I care about this?

A: Strong schools help support a strong and vibrant community. Local community and business leaders are active in our schools and will help guide future decisions. We are all dependent upon the outcomes of all schools, and Clearbrook-Gonvick is no exception. We must educate the next generation to sustain our community. 

Q: Is a gym really instructional spaces?

A: Yes. Physical Education is an important part of students’ curriculum in all grades. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) requires physical education in all grades K-8, and high schoolers must receive instruction in physical education at least once. Research links physical activity to academic achievement and overall well-being.

Q. What if the referendum doesn’t pass?

A. The issues our school faces will not go away. The roof will continue to leak, be out of warranty and uninsurable. Safety challenges will remain in our entries, cafeteria/commons, and athletic spaces. Our classrooms will become more cramped, as our enrollment increases. The only change over time will be that construction costs will continue to rise. While the current referendum is for $34.9 million, the amount will undoubtedly increase in years to come.

One example: In 2023 the cost to replace the roof was $3.1 million. In 2025, the same replacement cost is $3.65 million.

Q. What’s different about this referendum?

A. The 2023 proposal was a $28 million bond referendum that was defeated by voters. The 2025 referendum is a $34.9 million request. It is more expensive due to inflation and a different and updated project proposal.

After the last referendum was defeated, a second steering committee and the school board listened to the community survey and community voices to make positive improvements to the plan, compared to the 2023 proposal, such as adding additional classrooms, maintaining the existing elementary gym, and expanding on career and technical education space. The 2025 referendum proposal has made improvements to the plan that factor in the previous bond election results and community feedback.

Q. What is the difference between a bond and an operating levy? 
A. Bonds are for buildings. Levies are for learning. An operating referendum is an election asking voters to provide funds that the district uses to run and operate its schools. An operating levy is for running the educational programs at the school and goes to the district’s general fund to support students. Bond levies are for funds that the school district uses for new construction, updates to existing facilities, and other additions to school properties. Each fund remains separate and cannot be used for another purpose.

Q. Can I deduct the taxes paid on my State and Federal Income Taxes?
A. If you itemize deductions for federal income taxes, you may deduct all property taxes paid.

Q. Does farm property receive some tax relief?
A. Yes, for decades, farm families paid school operating levies on 1 acre of property that included the house, but paid school bond levies on all property. In 2017, the Minnesota Legislature approved a 40 percent tax credit for farm land school bond taxes. In 2019, the legislature approved higher tax credits to be phased in over time:

• 50 percent in 2020 

• 55 percent in 2021

• 60 percent in 2022, and 

• 70 percent in 2023 and after 

Q. How do schools impact the community?
A. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, there is a definite correlation between school expenditures and home values in any given neighborhood. A report titled, “Using Market Valuation to Assess Public School Spending,” found that for every dollar spent on public schools in a community, home values increased $20. These findings indicate that additional school expenditures may benefit everyone in the community, whether or not those residents actually have children in the local public school system.