by Dennis Dalman
Tuesday, Feb. 11 will be an important day for the future of everyone living in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District because that is the election day on which voters will decide two referendum questions in a special-election ballot.
Early voting
Early in-person absentee voting is an option on Friday, Feb. 7 and on Monday, Feb. 10 at the School District Service Center at 212 Third Ave. N. The voting hours on both of those days is from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Enter through Door 10 (nearest the playground).
One question concerns the HVAC system at Riverview Elementary School. Another question proposes the issuance of a bond to pay for improvements to athletic facilities at the high school. (For more on those questions, see “Two questions” below.)
There are three polling places open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on that election day. Voters must be registered to vote in order to cast a ballot, but in-person voter registration will be available at those three polling places on election. Be sure to bring proper identification that includes proof of your street address.
Here are the three polling places:
Sartell City Hall
125 Pinecone Road N.
This combined polling place serves all territory in Independent School District No. 748, located in the City of Sartell (Precincts 1, 3 and 4) and LeSauk Township in Stearns County, as well as the City of Sartell (Precinct 2) in the part of Sartell that is within Benton County.
Celebration Lutheran Church
1500 Pinecone Road N.
This combined polling place serves all territory in Independent School District No. 748, located in the City of Sartell (Precincts 5, 6 and 7) in Stearns County.
St. Stephen City Hall
2 Sixth Ave. SE
This combined polling place serves all territory in Independent School District No. 748, located in the City of St. Stephen and the townships of St. Wendel, East Brockway and West Brockway, all of them in Stearns County.
Two questions
Here are the two questions voters will consider. Please note if the first question does not pass, the second one won’t pass either.
Question 1
Shall the board of Independent School District No. 748 (Sartell-St. Stephen Public Schools), Minnesota be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in the amount not to exceed $21,930,000 for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to, indoor air quality upgrades and deferred capital maintenance improvements at the Riverview Intermediate School?
Question 2
If School District Question 1 is approved, shall the board of Independent School District No. 748 (Sartell-St. Stephen Public Schools), Minnesota be authorized to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $8,485,000 for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including but not limited to, outdoor improvements to athletic fields and physical education spaces at the Sartell High School?
Underneath each ballot question is an advisory to voters that approval of those questions will lead to a property-tax increase.
So for an average district home value of $300,000, taxes would increase $78.49/year if Question 1 is approved or a total of $108.93/year should both questions be approved. Again, Question 2 is contingent upon approval of Question 1.
To find out more about the special election and to see other tax-increase estimates for other home values, visit the following online site: www.isd748.org/VOTE2025.
