The Crookston School District held its final information meeting for the special election referendum questions on Thursday night. During the meeting they covered the process leading up to the election, what the steps would be after, legal explanations of the way questions have to be worded, and the costs associated with a building used by an educational entity compared to an agricultural building.
Mark LaPlante asked during the meeting whether there was an operational cost comparison between a heated garage and using block heaters as the school does currently. Superintendent Jeremy Olson said he was unable to recall the numbers offhand but said he would make sure to put those numbers on the referendum webpage. After the meeting, LaPlante said he found it informative and asked was curious about the operational cost comparison to take emotion out of the vote. “I think it was a very informative meeting,” said LaPlante. “I think they have put a very good foot forward on their design plans. Just a few things about operational costs going forward that I asked they publicize to take the emotion out of the difference between operating costs. I believe they have been conscientious about not overspending tax dollars. There is always debate on that and I think they have done a good job.”
Olson was also asked what the school would do with the current location. Olson explained that ultimately is a school board decision, but that he would recommend they tear down the wood structure that is bowing out and use the steel structure for storage, rather than rent downtown. Olson also explained he’d like to see the brick building be sold to a responsible owner who would use it. LaPlante said he agreed with what Olson plans to recommend to the school board. “The main steel building that used to be the high school body shop back in the day when I was attending school, I agree that should be used for storage instead of renting storage,” said LaPlante. “The old 1935 building, which is actually a pretty cool building for the right future owner, can be turned into a pretty interesting place. That’s why I believe that building should be sold, not torn down, not turned into another gravel parking lot. That’s the last thing the city needs is another gravel parking lot. But, I think a proper owner could be found for that building and the school district can use that money wherever they can legally use it.”
Questions were also asked about how the ag tax credit would apply to the bus garage project and Olson explained that beginning in 2020 the tax would be at 50 percent of agricultural taxes on the project. So that the Crookston District, which is 53 percent ag, would have 26 percent of the taxes on the building paid by the State of Minnesota in 2020. That percentage paid by the State of Minnesota would continue to grow through 2023 as the tax credit incrementally increases to 70 percent. LaPlante said that was important for him as a farm landowner, and his brother as a producer, especially since there will be a lot of wounds to be liked in the ag community after a bad year. “The big thing for me is I’m not a producer,” said LaPlante. “My brother [Craig] is a producer, but I rent to him as do a lot of people who rent agricultural land. So, if your tax goes up of course and you can’t get more rent you get squeezed on the value of your property. Realistically in the next couple of years, the amount you’re going to rent land for is going to go down. It’s going to be forced in contract renewals. This is a bad year and there are going to be a lot of wounds to be licked. And there are going to be a lot of bankers having very serious conversations with their farmers this year which is going to include where do you get your cost reductions. So, having the state improving and increasing its offset is going to be important for the people who hold the land, are renting it out, and for those who are hoping to continue to farm it. So that’s a very important thing, a very important thing.”
Olson said he appreciated the questions that were asked and would post the information LaPlante requested about the difference in operational costs between a heated garage and block heaters to the website after locating it in the bus garage committee’s past documents. “I was very appreciative of the people who showed up and expressed their opinions,” said Olson. “There were a few questions there that we answered. There is one question that I need to get back on the heated portion of the bus garage and what those operation costs will do compared to our current operation. So, I’ve got some homework to do as well. But, overall very excited to see people come out, give us an understanding of what their thoughts are, and ask the questions that needed to be asked.”
Olson also said he’d welcome anyone to call him with any questions they have, so they can get the information they need before voting on November 5. “We want people to recognize that November 5 is election day and we need to come out and vote,” said Olson. “We’re looking at a couple of referendum questions as we’ve talked about in the past. One is operating, which will actually be a tax decrease for residential and commercial. It will hold ag harmless. Question two is going to be about the bus garage. That is a tax impact for ag, commercial, and residential. And then we have information on our website. If people have any questions, they can also call me as well. We want to make sure they have the information they need for November 5.”
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