Half of the rural school facility bonds have been approved in 2019. Ten rural school districts gained voter approval of their proposed facility bonds in 2019, and 10 did not.

School districts may hold school bond elections three times in the first half of in February, April and May.  Rural schools that held votes in February and April did better, with five  approved and two not approved. Only five of the 13 votes May 14 gained approval to move forward.

This approval rate is similar to the 53 percent approval rate for first half 2018, but trails significantly the 68 percent approval rate last November.

Once again metro districts had a 100 percent approval rate with both metro districts with facility bond questions in 2019 receiving voter approval.

2019 School District Facility Bond Referendums (Feb. April, and May)

Rural/Metro Passed Failed Percent Passed
Rural 10 10 50%
Metro 2 0 100%
State-wide 12 10 55%

 

Rural Results by School District

2019 School District Facility Bond Referendums (Feb., April, and May)

Approved Bond Referendums Disapproved Bond Referendums
Dawson-Boyd Austin
Eveleth-Gilbert Frazee-Vergas
LaCresent-Hoka Lester Prairie
Marshall Moose Lake
New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Owatonna
Pillager Pine River-Backus
Pipestone Staples-Motley
Round Lake-Brewster Worthington
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Wrenshall
Virginia Zumbrota-Mazeppa

Rural school districts significantly trail the metro in median household income, making voter approval of facility bonds relatively more costly to voters with smaller household incomes. Learn more