The Thief River Falls School Board approved a resolution on Monday to present voters with an investment plan that seeks approval of new levies to stabilize the district’s finances and support educational programming, technology and student services. District voters will consider three ballot questions seeking the additional financial support on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

School District 564, Thief River Falls, issued the following statements:

For the past year, the district’s Long-Term Planning Advisory Committee (LTPAC) has been gathering feedback from district staff, students and community members over the course of over a dozen meetings to help prioritize what sort of investments would best serve students and provide financial stability in the years ahead.

A new website – PlanForOurProwlers.org – will serve as an informational hub for residents to learn more about the proposed investments and the referendum on Nov. 7. The website provides residents with details about the school district’s financial challenges, how the plan will benefit students, the cost of the investment and the projected tax impact on property owners.

“This is an important community decision about the future of our schools,” said Chris Mills, superintendent of Thief River Falls public schools. “We hope the website will be a go-to resource for anyone looking to learn more about the plan to meet the needs of our students.”

During this November’s election, the district will ask voters to consider three ballot questions which, if approved, will authorize new funding to protect the long-term financial stability of the district’s operations, recruit and retain talented staff, and invest in technology, small class sizes and new learning opportunities.

• Question One: Seeks to authorize a new operating levy of $740 per-pupil. If approved, the levy would provide $1,375,000 annually for the district’s general fund over a 10-year term and cost a $150,000 home $15.06 per month. Passage would create 3 to 4 years of financial stability for the district.

• Question Two: Seeks to authorize a capital projects levy (CPL) of $800,000 per year for a 7-year term and cost a $150,000 home $4.66 per month. The CPL would complete funding for the district’s 1:1 technology plan, which ensures all students have access to reliable learning technology at school and at home. The CPL would also invest in security and safety improvements in the district’s buildings, and help alleviate financial pressure on the district’s general fund.

• Question Three: Seeks to authorize an additional operating levy of $460 per-pupil. If approved, the levy would provide $843,000 for a 10-year term and cost a $150,000 home $9.25 per month. This funding would support the same services as Question One by strengthening the district’s general fund to avoid deficit spending and create an additional 2 to 3 years of financial stability for the district’s budget.

Questions two and three are contingent upon question one passing.

Without additional financial support, the district faces a deficit of nearly $2.4 million heading into the 2025-2026 academic year. The district has already cut nearly $2.7 million, or approximately 10% of its total budget, over the last six years in response to inadequate state funding for education. Further cuts to the budget would likely include reductions in staffing and student programming.

In the coming weeks, visitors to PlanForOurProwlers.org will find a tax calculator to determine their tax impact on their individual properties as well as answers to frequently asked questions and instructions for how to vote. The website will be updated regularly through Election Day with further information about early voting and answers to additional community questions.

“We’re committed to providing residents with the information they need to make an informed vote, and we look forward to engaging our community further about this big step for our schools,” said Mills.

Residents with questions or suggestions are encouraged to submit feedback at PlanForOurProwlers.com/connect.