East Grand Forks School Board Offering Three Ballot Measures

The first ballot measure will ask voters to approve a $300-per-student operating levy to support the East Grand Forks School District’s daily operations. The levy would generate roughly $600,000 per year for the district and Grover estimates that it would increase property taxes by $167 per year on a home worth $300,000.

Zillow lists that an average home value in East Grand Forks is worth $291,077. Grover added that East Grand Forks is one of the only school districts in the area that doesn’t have an operating levy.

The second proposal is for a $26.4 million bond referendum. This referendum would fund secure entryways throughout the district. It would also fund upgrades and improvements to mechanical systems and electrical systems, as well as office areas.

Most of the district’s buildings were built shortly after the 1997 Flood, and many of the district’s systems are almost 30 years old. Grover also says that projects funded by the referendum were chosen based on a districtwide facility assessment and community survey data. Grover estimates the average taxpayer cost for the first bond at $211 for a $300,000 home.

The district’s third and final question will ask for approval of an $11.5 million bond referendum that would build an addition to New Heights Elementary School for the district’s pre-k program. Pre-k students currently attend classes at different locations around the district.

It would be a 21,500-square-foot addition if approved.  It would be built on the west side of New Heights and include six classrooms, a 6,200-square-foot multipurpose room, a new playground and new classroom furniture. Each classroom would include a restroom and storage area.

Grover said this bond referendum relies on the other one being approved by voters. The operating levy question is completely separate from the referendums.

The district estimated the taxpayer cost of the pre-k addition referendum at roughly $120 for a $300,000 home