Learn More Then Vote

The ballot language will read as follows:  Shall the board of Independent School District No. 2144 (Chisago Lakes), Minnesota be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $63,710,000 for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to, additions at the Primary School, safety and security improvements at Taylors Falls Elementary, the Middle School and the High School, and various roofing replacement, parking lot improvement and various other capital projects districtwide?

Our District has been actively engaged in facilities planning since 2022.  After the unsuccessful referendum in 2023, the Chisago Lakes’ Administration and School Board worked with a K-12 facility planning consultant to help develop a fiscally responsible plan for addressing the infrastructure and educational needs in our District. Since February of 2024, the District has:

• Completed an independent assessment of our facilities 

• Surveyed staff on day-to-day facility challenges

• Engaged a Community Advisory Committee to help develop and finalize potential solutions

• Sought feedback from our communities through a survey to determine what solutions would be supported 

• Conducted Administration and Board work sessions to develop a project that fit our community

• Developed a community-based Strategic Plan for the District

• Decided, with unanimous School Board support, to seek voter approval for funding to address the priority needs in our facilities

This collaborative and transparent approach led to the prioritized plan voters will have the opportunity to finalize with their May 13, 2025 referendum vote.

A facility condition assessment conducted by an independent firm found that some of our facilities have outdated systems for heating and cooling, electrical, lighting and other critical infrastructure needs. Classroom instruction has also changed since our schools were built and areas of our facilities don’t meet today’s educational standards. While the District gets money every year for facility maintenance -- and will use this to minimize the referendum costs -- it is not enough to cover all the priority needs in our District.  

Additionally, Minnesota education funding does not provide enough funding for large capital renewal projects.  Unlike other public entities, school districts must seek approval from local taxpayers for large renovation, modernization or expansion projects -- which are typically needed every 20 to 30 years.

The 2024 facility assessment included a comprehensive list of facility improvements needed to extend the life of our facilities. After working with the Facilities Task Force to refine plans and surveying staff and community on priorities, the proposed plan would address safety and security needs, renew existing infrastructure, and enhance academic spaces. Priorities include:

Safety and Security Enhancements

• Upgrade building alarms (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Replace fire alarms and paging/sound systems (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Add security cameras (HS, PS)

• Expand sprinkler systems (HS, MS)

• Replace emergency generators (MS, TF, PS)

• Install additional electrical outlets (HS, MS)

• Reconfigure community entrance for improved security (HS)

• Relocate main office to create secure entrance (MS)

Infrastructure Improvements

• Replace worn roofing, leaking windows, and aging interior/exterior doors (HS, MS, TF)

• Update lighting (LED) and electrical power distribution (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Upgrade phone systems, wireless access, and classroom video displays (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Repair building exteriors and sites including masonry, siding, and drainage (HS, MS, TF)

• Upgrade plumbing and replace areas of galvanized piping (HS, MS, PS)

• Replace playground equipment (TF, PS)

• Update heating/cooling/HVAC equipment and controls (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Replace pool mechanical systems and repair lights, flooring, and ceiling

• Address irrigation, drainage, and lighting issues at athletic sites (HS) 

Academic Space Updates

• Renovate third floor of Middle School

• Reconfigure nurse’s area at Taylors Falls Elementary School

• Remodel Middle School kitchen 

• Update learning commons and media center to create small group learning spaces

• Renew worn interior ceilings, flooring, walls, casework, lockers (HS, MS, TF, PS)

• Update auditorium sound and lighting systems, as well as stage curtain, flooring, and acoustics (HS)

• Replace bleachers in main gym (HS)

• Renovate and expand restrooms for privacy and accessibility (HS, MS, TF, PS)

This investment in our schools is an investment in our community. Public education impacts everyone, whether or not they have children in school. It results in opportunities for better careers, higher incomes, and better property values. 

An approved referendum will help Chisago Lakes maintain its Wildcat Edge by extending the life of our schools, while continuing to provide quality teaching and learning environments that attract and retain students, staff, and families.  

Minnesota’s School Building Bond Agricultural Credit (AG2School Credit) provides landowners tax relief on school bonds by providing a 70% reduction for their agricultural property. It was created to help reduce and equalize taxes for agricultural landowners in rural districts where, historically, it was difficult to pass bonds because of how agricultural landowners were taxed.  Since the bill was passed, rural districts have been able to pass bonds that improve the quality of Greater Minnesota Education.

Bob Indihar, Executive Director of the Minnesota Rural Education Association (MREA) noted that the Ag2School Credit was a major priority and significant win for MREA and its districts when it passed with bipartisan support in 2017. Since the reduction of this funding would require an act of the House and Senate along with the Governor's signature, MREA believes it is unlikely to go away.  The State is well-positioned financially to continue supporting this and MREA believes that is solid legislation with strong support from both parties.

Although we fix what we can through our operating budget, facility needs that remain unresolved don't go away. Due to inflation of material and labor costs, the solutions only become more expensive the longer they go unaddressed. If the referendum is not approved, our School Board will continue reviewing options to address the identified needs since they cannot be addressed within the operating budget.

Ultimately, the District will have to go out for a bond to get these needs addressed to protect our facilities in the future.  

No. The plans are CONCEPTS ONLY based on input from our staff, community task force and school board.  If the referendum is approved, a District design committee will be formed to collaborate with consultants on the final design

Absentee and early in-person voting begins Friday, March 28, 2025

• Chisago County: 313 N Main Street, Center City, MN 55012

Election Day voting takes place on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 from 7am to 8pm

• Find your polling location here

POLLING LOCATIONS FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

Chisago Lakes Township Hall, 12400 316th St., Lindstrom, Minnesota  55405

• Precinct #1: This combined polling place services all territory in Independent School District No. 2144 located in Chisago City; Chisago Lakes Township/North; Chisago Lakes Township/South; Lent Township and the City of Wyoming; Chisago County, Minnesota.

Lindstrom Community Center, 13292 Sylvan Ave., Lindstrom, Minnesota 55045

• Precinct #2: This combined polling place services all territory in Independent School District No. 2144 located in Center City; City of Lindstrom; City of Scandia; and Sunrise Township; Chisago County, Minnesota.

Taylors Falls City Hall, 637 First Street, Taylors Falls, Minnesota 55084

• Precinct #3: This combined polling place services all territory in Independent School District No. 2144 located in Amador Township; Franconia Township; City of Shafer; City of Taylors Falls; Chisago County, Minnesota.

No. A new middle school (CLMS) typically costs over $70 million.  That's more than twice the amount it would cost to redesign the current middle school.  Redesigning CLMS will address the needs and save approximately $40 million.  

The improvements (safety and security, deferred maintenance, and redesign of CLMS) are a significant and timely investment in our community’s facilities. Postponing the improvements will only cost more later.

• Operating levy (supports daily expenses of operating schools as well as student learning): School Board approved in 2023, expires in 2033.  The continuance of this levy came as a tax neutral piece to our taxpayers.  Your taxes did not and will not increase with the extension of this levy.    

• LTFM Bonds (supported small scale projects with existing funds): approved in 2020, expires in 2030 and in 2018, expires in 2033.  These two bonds had no impact on your taxes since we bonded against monetary proceeds we will receive in the future.  Your taxes did not and will not increase from these two bonds issuance.  

• Facilities bond to build the Wildcat Community Center and the Lakeside Elementary School: approved in 2017, payable over 20 years expiring in 2038. 

The bond question establishes a one-time increase for residents to their school property taxes that will continue to remain consistent for the life of the bond (21 years).  The proposed $63.710 million plan includes two bond issues that wrap around the district’s existing debt.

When approved, construction is expected to take place between 2026 and 2028, with the majority of work being completed over the summer months.

Yes! Similar to a home mortgage, when bond interest rates fall, school districts have the opportunity to refinance their debt, and Chisago Lakes School District has a history of doing just that to save our taxpayers money. 

A bond referendum is an election that allows local residents to decide whether a school district should incur debt by issuing bonds to fund improvements to the district’s facilities. Approval of the referendum gives the district the ability to make large-scale improvements more efficiently than using the yearly maintenance budget. 

School districts issue bonds to obtain the funds necessary to pay for construction and professional services. The district pays back the bonds over a fixed period of years with revenue from property taxes and aid received from the state. In the last 12 years, over 240 Minnesota school districts have passed bond referenda to finance construction projects.

School Districts are the only government entity that has to get voter approval to do a bond.  Cities and Counties have the ability to raise taxes without voter approval.

Like a mortgage, bonds allow all necessary investments to be made immediately while paying off the cost over a set number of years. Because school construction costs and materials increase over time, it is less expensive to pay the interest on bonds than to complete construction one step at a time over multiple years.

The district facilitated a four year evaluation of our facility needs through local assessments, surveying stakeholders and community members, and determining what are most pressing needs are now and into the future.  In the last year, we conducted a comprehensive facility study to evaluate all aspects of our facilities, identify needs while determining priorities, and developing a plan to address these needs for the next 15 to 20 years. 

Through the entire assessment process as well as identifying the most pressing facility needs, we are able to address our most important needs for the life of the bond.  We would not have to go out to our taxpayers again for the next 15 to 20 years for facility needs.

Research is clear, strong schools equals strong communities.  In recent studies, there is a direct correlation between communities that have great schools equates to home owners seeing higher values on their properties. We also see research talk about good schools fostering safer environments which include reductions in crime.  Finally, successful schools like Chisago Lakes bring revenue to the community in new families who buy local and stay local.  Our economy thrives when the schools succeed. 

The Bond requests voter permission for the district to purchase $63,710,000 in bonds to invest in building upgrades and maintenance. It would cost the owner of a median-value home of $400,000 less than a dollar a day (approximately $28 per month). This includes the cost of project building materials, the labor needed to perform this work and the necessary financing fees. 

You can determine the estimated tax impact on your specific property by using our tax calculator.

Residents are encouraged to share their questions and feedback by emailing ReferendumInfo@isd2144.org or calling our referendum voicemail at (651) 213-2030, and the appropriate staff will return your call.

Yes.  There will be significant savings in on-going utilities (electric and gas) by putting in new, energy efficient windows, doors, HVAC systems, air handlers, and lighting.  Many of these investments will pay themselves off in the matter of one or two years allowing existing resources to be used to cover other needs and costs that continue to rise.

To start, bonds are for  buildings, levies are for learning. Below is a brief overview of each type.

• Bonds are used for long-term capital improvements such as building new schools, renovating old facilities, and upgrading infrastructure (like heating systems, roofs, or technology installations). Bonds are paid back over time, much like a mortgage, with voter approval.

• Levies fund day-to-day operational expenses that aren’t fully covered by state funding. These include critical aspects like teachers’ salaries, school supplies, transportation, and extracurricular activities. Levies require voter approval and are typically collected over a set number of years to ensure we can meet our operational needs.