Voters in Moorhead and the neighboring Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton School District have the opportunity today to influence the future of their local education systems through special elections. Polls are open from 07:00 to 20:00 on November 4, allowing residents to decide on crucial referendums aimed at funding essential school operations and projects.
In Moorhead, the referendum consists of two significant questions. The first seeks approval for an operating levy designed to generate $4.37 million annually, equating to approximately $575 per pupil. These funds are earmarked for teacher and staff salaries, educational supplies, program costs, utilities, and maintenance. The second question proposes a capital projects levy, aiming to raise $1.5 million each year to address capital, technology, and transportation needs. If both measures pass, they would collectively secure $58.7 million over a decade, with the operating levy contributing $43.7 million and the capital projects levy $15 million.
For homeowners, particularly those with a median property value of $250,000, the approval of both levies would result in an increase of approximately $23.74 in monthly property taxes starting in 2026. Notably, Moorhead Area Public Schools has not pursued a new operating levy since 2005.
Polling locations for Moorhead residents include:
– St. Francis de Sales Church, 601 15th Ave. N.
– Cullen Hockey Center Club Room, 707 SE Main Ave.
– Bethesda Lutheran Church, 401 40th Ave. SW.
– Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 4000 28th St. S.
– Dilworth Lutheran Church, 406 Third St. NE, Dilworth.
Voters must ensure that completed absentee ballots are submitted to the district office by 17:00 today for their votes to be counted.
The referendum for the Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton School District is also critical, proposing a funding mechanism that would generate $850,000 annually over ten years, totaling $8.5 million. Superintendent Shannon Hunstad has stated that if the referendum fails, the district would likely face significant cuts, including the loss of one teacher per grade level at the elementary level and the elimination of elective classes at the middle and high schools. For homeowners in this district, the approval of the referendum would lead to an increase of approximately $22 per month in property taxes.
Polling locations for the Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton School District include:
– Dilworth Lutheran Church, 406 Third St. NE, Dilworth.
– Glyndon Community Center, 212 Partridge Ave., Glyndon.
– Felton Community Center, 253 Sixth St., Felton.
As residents make their voices heard today, the outcomes of these referendums will have a lasting impact on the educational landscape in both Moorhead and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.
