Sauk Rapids-Rice Superintendent Makes Pitch for Operating Levy [AUDIO]

SAUK RAPIDS - Sauk Rapids-Rice residents have an operating levy question on their ballot again this year.  It will ask for $1.7 million a year for six years.

Voters defeated two questions last year.

Superintendent Dan Bittman says they're going back to the voters again, because they've already made a lot of cuts to their budget.

Bittman says more cuts will be necessary, if the levy fails again this year.

Bittman says the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district is 334 out of 338 school districts in the state, in terms of funding.  They are one of just a handful of districts without an operating levy.

If the question passes next week, it would pay for transportation for students who live in the district.  Right now families are paying $200 a child to ride the bus.

If it passes, a $125,000 home would see a property tax increase of about $100 a year.