05-08-2025
Triton Public Schools considers holding special election for capital projects levy
Aug. 4—DODGE CENTER, Minn. — Triton Public Schools is considering hosting a special election to ask voters to approve a capital projects levy for the district.
The Triton school board is hosting a special meeting on Monday, Aug. 4, to discuss the possibility. Although the board has not voted about whether to put the question to voters yet, the proposed amount of the levy would provide $650,000 a year for 10 years.
"We want to make investments in our future," said Triton Superintendent Luke Letterman. "And that requires additional funding in some of our facilities, in transportation, and other critical areas in order to make sure we continue to improve."
If the district does put the question before voters, it would likely hold the special election in November.
Letterman went on to say that the district could use the funding for a number of needs, such as curriculum, technology upgrades and deferred maintenance.
One of the more prominent areas the district would use the funding for, however, is transportation. Letterman said the district's initial plan is to use the funding to help replace a bus, or two, per year.
Monday's special meeting comes on the heels of a survey the district contracted to gauge voter reaction to the proposed levy. According to a presentation on the results, a weighted average of 59.7% of respondents said they would support a levy of $650,000.
According to the introduction of the survey, the district needs to ask voters for additional funding for a couple reasons. One is that funding from the state "has not kept up with rising costs."
However, the district also said in the survey that it has been impacted by declining enrollment, which has been an issue for many school districts in the state. According to the survey introduction, the district had to reduce spending by $500,000 in 2023-24 and by another $800,000 for the upcoming year of 2025-26 "to reflect the reduction in student enrollment."
As of 2024-25, Triton Public Schools had a student population of 889. The district is located in Dodge Center, roughly 20 miles west of Rochester.
"Our unassigned fund balance has been declining," Letterman said, referring to the district's savings. "If we have a dedicated funding source for this work, we would not need to draw as much from our general fund and we'll be better prepared should emergencies or the unexpected arise."
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