Litchfield Schools will ask for $300-per-student levy increase on May 19

LITCHFIELD -- Litchfield Public Schools will ask for a $300-per-student levy increase when it proposes its May 19 referendum to local voters.

Superintendent Bill Wold said today the Litchfield School Board finalized the details for its May 19 referendum during Monday's board meeting. Wold said the district will ask voters to approve a $600-per-student operating levy that lasts for seven years.

The district previously sought the same levy amount during November's election, but local voters turned down that proposal. Shortly after the voter rejection, the school district was notified that it had fallen into statutory operating.

After the district organized a state-mandated three-year recovery plan, the Minnesota Department of Education gave the district permission to propose a May 19 referendum. By statute, school districts in statutory operating debt may propose referendums, pending permission from the state education commissioner, until the district's financial recovery.

If voters approve the May 19 referendum, Wold said, the district will need to revoke its existing $301.51-per-student levy that expires in 2013.