The Hastings School Board will vote at its regular meeting Wednesday, July 27 on putting a referendum question on the Nov. 7 ballot seeking voter permission for an annual capital levy for technology purposes.

The board heard a presentation at its July 12 work session. The technology levy would bring in $2 million annually for a period of 10 years. That, in turn, would allow the district to move technology expenses from its general fund, allowing more funding for educational programs and new mandates passed down by the state legislature in its education funding package.

A board presentation described the levy as: “The technology levy would fund staff and student devices, critical technology infrastructure and equipment, physical security and cybersecurity solutions, training and technology support positions, learning space audio and visual systems and essential technology-based academic software tools.”

In the spring, the district contracted with Morris Leatherman on a community survey when it was making preparations to renew one of its two operating levies, which expires after the 2023-24 school year. However, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a measure allowing school boards to vote to extend an operating levy for 10 years. The Hastings School Board took advantage of that new legislation and extended a levy that brings in $3 million in operating funding annually at its June meeting.

The board also had preliminary talks this spring of the possibility of adding a technology levy to the November ballot. That moved to center stage with the operating levy not having to go on the ballot also.

The community survey showed that 68.9 percent of respondents supported a technology levy. On the tax impact side, 55 percent of respondents supported the levy at a tax impact of $140 annually.

The tax impact to different types of property at the $2 million level would vary. A residence valued at $300,000 in the Hastings School District would see a tax increase of $110 if the ballot measure passes. A commercial/industrial property valued at $500,000, would see an increase of $226. An agricultural homestead property valued at $8,000 per acre would see an increase of $1.52 per acre. A non-homestead agricultural property valued at $8,000 per acre would see an increase of $3.05 per acre.

All board members attending the work session indicated support for the technology referendum.