Moorhead Area Public Schools Superintendent Brandon Lunick briefed Clay County commissioners Oct. 21 on the district's two-question ballot measure for Nov. 4, asking for an operating levy and a capital projects levy.

Lunick said the district's enrollment has grown about 30% over the past decade and that state funding per pupil has not kept pace with inflation since 2005. The district's current local voter-approved levy is $224 per pupil, below the state average, and the district currently has no capital projects levy in place. Lunick said state-level changes, such as the READ Act curriculum changes and paid family medical leave, have imposed costs that outstrip state-provided funds.

Question 1 presented to voters is an operating levy of $5.75 per pupil (the superintendent said the figure would scale with enrollment) that would generate roughly $4,370,000 per year at current enrollment; question 2 is a capital projects levy that would generate $1,500,000 per year for 10 years. Lunick said if both pass the combined estimated tax impact on a median $250,000 home in Moorhead would be about $23.74 per month ($18.91 for the operating levy and $4.83 for the capital projects levy).

Lunick said the operating levy is designed to preserve programming and staffing and would be indexed to enrollment; the capital projects levy would fund non-bond capital items such as electric buses, shop/Career and Technical Education equipment and facility maintenance. He warned that failure to pass the measures would likely require reductions totaling about $5 million and could mean staff reductions and program cuts.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how the levies are collected (per-pupil basis; homeowner tax impact varies with market valuation and enrollment) and polling locations for the Nov. 4 election; Lunick provided absentee and polling-place information and directed voters to vote152.org for details. Several commissioners praised the district's partnerships with county programs, juvenile center classes and other cooperative efforts.

No board action was required; commissioners thanked district officials and encouraged public outreach.