Sep 29

Sep 29 RPS holding public meeting on referendum Wednesday night

Rochester Public Schools will host a public information session Wednesday night to try to sell voters on the district's upcoming referendum.

The forum will be held from 7-9 p.m. at the Rochester Public Library. Several officials from the school district will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

Rochester voters will be asked on Nov. 3 whether they want to contribute an additional $9.6 million per year toward the school district's operating expenses.

If the measure is approved by voters, the district will be able to maintain current spending levels for the next five years.

But if voters reject the referendum, the district would have to make 5 percent across-the-board spending cuts — the equivalent of about 114 full-time positions — to offset a $3.8 million deficit for the 2016-17 school year.

The additional tax levy, which would put per-student spending on par with the state average, would cost about $15/month for the owner of a $200,000 home.

Click here for our July interview with Superintendent Michael Muñoz.