Survey Finds Support For Rochester School District Levy Increase

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The Rochester School Board will be presented today with the results of a recent survey designed to gauge support for a renewal or expansion of the school district's existing operating levy.

Superintendent Kent Pekel is currently developing a recommendation concerning a possible referendum this fall and the survey results will likely factor in his decision-making process. The survey involved 400 registered voters in the Rochester School District and was conducted between May 22 and June 2 with an approximate margin of error of approximately plus-minus 5%.

The results mirrored those of a survey conducted in 2021 that found broad support for an increase in the current $17 million operating levy. The show 59% of the respondents would favor an increase and that number rose to more than 61% after the survey-taker was supplied with additional information about potential uses for an increase in funding. 24% of the respondents were against a property tax increase benefiting the public school system while 20% did not have an opinion.

The survey also sought to measure support for a potential levy to provide additional funding for technology investments. 56% of the respondents indicated they would favor the proposal, and the level of support grew to more than 58% after the person was provided with additional information.

The strongest support for the operating levy increase was found among parents of school-age children at nearly 88%. 61% of parents who previously had students in the Rochester School District also favored the proposal, while the level of support dropped to around 48% among non-parents. It also found homeowners were slightly more likely than renters to favor a possible tax increase. More than 62% of homeowners expressed support compared with about 59% of renters.