Byron launches referendum site ahead of vote

After months of discussion and planning, Byron’s referendum website is now online at byronreferendum2025.com.
The district hopes that residents will use the website to find out all the information they need to make an informed decision on the levy referendum this November.
The website breaks the issue down into areas including The Need, The Plan, The Cost, The Process, Voting, FAQs and Resources.
Voters will see two questions on the ballot when they go to the polls this November.
Question 1 asks voters to approve a $700 per pupil operating levy that will allow the district to “offer a broad range of academic and co-curricular programs, attract and retain high-quality and experienced teachers and staff and support classrooms.”
Question Two seeks approval of a capital projects technology levy that “generates $250,000 annually dedicated specifically to classroom technology, cybersecurity, and school safety improvements. Question 2 can only pass if Question 1 passes.”
The district has found itself in financial distress for a variety of reasons and has made cuts totaling more than $3 million in each of the past two years.
Failure to pass the referendum, officials say, will mean even more cuts to next year’s budget.
It also means that the district is forecast to be in Statutory Operating Debt (SOD) by 2027. Once in SOD, a school district loses some autonomy to the state of Minnesota.
School board members and administration are not limiting their public outreach to the website. Over the next few months, residents can expect to see emails, mailers, and public information meetings, as well as board members and administrators appearing at meetings and public events to get the word out.