Gov. Tim Walz considers shift away from school referendums to fund Minnesota schools

Gov. Tim Walz is aiming to overhaul the way Minnesota funds its schools, putting more responsibility on the state and making local referendums "either rare or extinct."

As he finalizes his first budget, the DFL governor said he's focused on reversing what he sees as a disturbing trend: a leveling off in state support for education that's putting more pressure on local funding, and widening gaps between wealthy and poor, metro and greater Minnesota schools. Walz declined to release the specifics of his plan. But he said his budget - due by Feb. 19 - will include several proposals that would "start to set the groundwork" for a shift away from the bonding and operating referendums that currently add up to more than $1.6 billion in school funding each year.

http://www.startribune.com/walz-considers-shift-away-from-school-referendums-to-fund-minnesota-schools/504944132/