Roseville Area Schools proposes $6M-per-year 10-year safety and technology levy

Superintendent Jenny Lake told the Roseville City Council on Oct. 13 that Roseville Area Schools will ask voters Nov. 4 to approve a capital projects levy that would provide $6,000,000 per year for 10 years to support security and technology needs.

Lake said the levy would fund acquiring, maintaining and upgrading equipment, infrastructure and systems, including campus security technology, cybersecurity measures, network upgrades and digital learning tools. “The levy will provide $6,000,000 per year for 10 years,” she said during the presentation.

Lake and Executive Director of Business Services Sherry Thompson described the levy as ongoing operating support for technology-related costs rather than a one-time capital bond. They reviewed prior voter measures: a $144 million facilities bond passed in 2017 and an operating levy that voters renewed and increased in 2021. Lake told the council that nearly 70% of metro districts have a capital projects levy and that Roseville is “one of the few metro districts without dedicated funding to maintain and improve the technology that supports student learning, safety, and connection.”

The district provided an estimated tax impact for a median-valued home: Lake and Thompson said the effect on a $350,000 home is about $18 per month. They also said the district will make a tax-calculator available on the district website so property owners can estimate their specific impact.

In response to council questions, Lake said the 2017 bond dollars were limited to facilities work and that the 2021 operating levy will expire with the 2031–2032 school year; she said the district would likely revisit renewal questions when those expirations approach. Lake and Thompson emphasized that many ongoing technology and cybersecurity costs are recurring and that, without dedicated funding, those costs would continue to be covered from the general fund and could require cuts to curricular and extracurricular programs.

Council members thanked the district representatives, asked about future asks and implementation details, and were encouraged to share information with voters. Lake directed residents to the district website for further details and a tax calculator.