10/26/2009 8:40:10 AM

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By Elliot Mann
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

On Nov. 3, five school districts in southeastern Minnesota are passing the hat to taxpayers.

	Referendums What happened: Five southeastern Minnesota school districts, including Austin, will ask voters Nov. 3 for more operating funds. Why it matters: Schools say it will help them continue operating without having to make large budget cuts. It will increase property taxes. What comes next: Some districts have held information forums. Voters go to the polls Nov. 3.

At least 57 school districts statewide are asking voters to approve operating levy referendums this fall. That's a jump from 42 districts last year. Another eight districts are considering bond referenda.

The five local districts placing a question on the Nov. 3 ballot are Austin, Rushford-Peterson, Blooming Prairie, Byron and Zumbrota-Mazeppa.

Even though levy referendums were originally called "operating levy overrides," most school districts now consider levies to be an essential part of funding.

About 92 percent of the 312 school districts in Minnesota have some sort of operating levy.

Many school districts, like Austin and Zumbrota-Mazeppa, have referendums that are expiring this year or next and hope to retain their current funding levels.

Austin Superintendent of Schools David Krenz said Gov. Tim Pawlenty's funding shifts, which essentially gave school districts an IOU from the state, were the "tipping point."

"It's not to improve (services) at this point," Krenz said. "It's how do we maintain what we've already got?"

Coming up Saturday: Details about the referendums in area school districts.

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