Prior Lake-Savage school referendum and board results, Nov. 3, 2026

Results

What was on the ballot

The Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools board voted Monday, June 8, to place two funding questions on the Nov. 3 ballot. On Monday, July 20, it approved the resolution calling the election on both questions 7-0. The wording below is from the district’s sample ballot and the board’s July 20 resolution.

School District Question 1: Revoking Existing Referendum Revenue Authorization; Approving New Authorization

The school board of Independent School District No. 719 (Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools) has proposed to revoke the school district’s existing referendum revenue authorization of $623.97 per pupil and to replace that authorization with a new authorization of $1,740.97 per pupil. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would be applicable for ten years commencing with taxes payable in 2027, and increase each year by the rate of inflation beginning with taxes payable in 2028, unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.

Shall the school district’s existing referendum revenue authorization be revoked, and the increase in the revenue proposed by the school board of Independent School District No. 719 be approved?

BY VOTING “YES” ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

School District Question 2: Approval of Capital Project Levy Authorization

The school board of Independent School District No. 719 (Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools) has also proposed a capital project levy authorization of 3.427% times the net tax capacity of the school district. The additional revenue from the proposed authorization will be used to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities; safety and security improvements; deferred maintenance and utility service costs; the acquisition and maintenance of software, technology, and technology systems, and to pay the costs of technology-related personnel and training; the purchase and replacement of school-related transportation vehicles; the acquisition of curriculum, textbooks, and materials; and other operating capital revenue purposes. The proposed capital project levy authorization will raise approximately $3,800,000 for taxes payable in 2028, the first year it is to be levied, and would be authorized for ten years. The estimated total cost of the projects to be funded over that time period is approximately $38,000,000. The projects to be funded have received a positive Review and Comment from the Commissioner of Education.

If School District Question 1 is approved, shall the capital project levy authorization proposed by the school board of Independent School District No. 719 also be approved?

BY VOTING “YES” ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

Source: district sample ballot, pages 1 and 2; July 20 board resolution, page 3 (Question 2); July 20 School Board minutes, page 4; district referendum announcement.

What it costs

These are the figures the ballot and the district gave before the vote.

Question 1 would replace the current operating levy of $623.97 per pupil with $1,740.97 per pupil for 10 years, starting with taxes payable in 2027, with an increase each year at the rate of inflation starting with taxes payable in 2028. The district estimates it would bring in about $10.27 million in additional funding in the first year. The board’s resolution estimates a referendum tax rate of about 0.16409% of the district’s referendum market value for taxes payable in 2027.

Question 2 is a capital project levy of 3.427% times the district’s net tax capacity. The ballot says it would raise about $3,800,000 for taxes payable in 2028, its first year, and would be authorized for 10 years, with an estimated total project cost of about $38 million over that time. The district says Question 2 has a net tax impact of zero dollars in its first year because planned debt reduction offsets it.

For a home valued at $525,000, the district estimates the proposed levies would raise school property taxes by about $46 a month. The district’s Tax Impact page links a calculator for other home values.

Source: district sample ballot, pages 1 and 2; July 20 board resolution, page 1; district referendum announcement; district referendum questions and answers.

What the district says it funds

This is what the district said before the vote.

The district says Question 1 money would be used to:

• support day-to-day classroom learning and school operations
• increase teaching and other positions to assist students
• purchase textbooks and curriculum materials
• provide Wi-Fi and network systems that give students, teachers and staff access to learning materials

The district says Question 2 money would be used to:

• provide a secure student entrance at Prior Lake High School
• install security window film at all schools
• increase surveillance cameras and equipment in all schools
• replace aging technology infrastructure that supports student learning
• address ongoing facility needs

The district also says that if both questions pass, part of the cost of technology staff and equipment now paid from its general fund would move to the capital projects levy, leaving more of the general fund for student learning.

Source: district page on how the levy funds would be used.

Latest related notes

How this works, what it covers and what it doesn’t: read the ground rules.

Photo: Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools.