Building Better Together: Oct. 21
Oct. 21, 2026
When voters consider the Building Better Together: 2026 Bond Referendum on Nov. 3, one of the most important questions is what the proposed investments would mean for their property taxes.
It's also important to understand how Minnesota schools pay for buildings, maintenance, technology, and daily operations, and why Robbinsdale Area Schools (Rdale) is asking voters to consider a building bond referendum for the first time in nearly 50 years.
Haven't we already invested in our schools?
Absolutely. Our community has generously supported Rdale by approving operating levies that help fund daily educational operations and a capital projects technology levy that supports technology needs. We are grateful for that continued commitment to our students and schools.
Our neighboring districts have these similar funding sources, too. The difference is that many have also received voter approval for building bond referendums dedicated to renovating, expanding, and modernizing their facilities.
Rdale voters haven't approved a building bond referendum since 1981 — 45 years ago.
Minnesota's school funding system helps explain why districts rely on different funding sources to meet their needs. The state provides funding for day-to-day school operations, but that funding doesn't cover every need. Locally approved operating levies help fill that gap by supporting educational programming and services. Major facility improvements are funded differently, with much of the responsibility falling to local communities through voter-approved building bonds and other property tax-supported funding.
Like our neighbors, Rdale also levies for long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) funding to address repairs, aging building systems, and health and safety needs. But maintaining aging buildings is different from making major investments to modernize them. Operating levies, technology levies, and LTFM funding serve important purposes, but they are not interchangeable with voter-approved building bonds.
Over those 45 years, Rdale has worked to maintain its aging schools, but significant maintenance and facility improvements have been deferred as needs have outpaced the work the district has been able to complete. Today, the district has identified approximately $140 million in maintenance needs over the next 10 years, while many of its buildings remain outdated and were designed for a different era of education. The proposed referendum would address larger-scale facility improvements that existing funding sources are not designed to fully support.
What happens to the district's $140 million maintenance plan?
Earlier this year, the Rdale Board of Education approved a 10-year long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) plan totaling approximately $140 million.
That is a plan for work spread across 10 years, and not $140 million in maintenance spending in a single year. It's also important to understand that LTFM debt doesn't simply accumulate year after year. As new maintenance projects are completed and financed, debt from previous projects is paid down or retired. This ongoing cycle allows the district to address maintenance needs over time while managing its debt obligations.
If the Building Better Together bond referendum is approved, some projects currently anticipated through LTFM could instead be addressed through the larger renovation and construction program. The district estimates this would reduce the remaining 10-year LTFM plan to approximately $80 million to $90 million.
Which specific projects would move from the LTFM plan into the bond-funded construction program?
That level of detail cannot be finalized yet. If the referendum is approved, architects, engineers, and construction teams would complete detailed building assessments and designs. This standard process would determine which maintenance projects could be incorporated into the larger construction work, which would remain in the LTFM plan, and how the projects would be scheduled.
The district would continue to have maintenance responsibilities regardless of the election outcome.
Why does this matter for students, families and our community?
Strong schools and strong communities go hand in hand. Quality schools are an important part of what makes a community attractive to families, and research has found associations between school quality and residential property values. While no specific increase in property values can be guaranteed, the condition and quality of local schools are among the factors families may consider when deciding where to live.
School buildings are more than places where students attend classes. They shape the learning experiences, programs, and opportunities a district can offer. And families notice. They see school facilities in neighboring communities through athletics, activities, school visits, and other experiences.
Families also have more choices than ever about where to enroll their children. Rdale currently enrolls approximately 62% of the school-age students living within district boundaries, about 10 percentage points below the statewide average. Once families choose another district or school, bringing them back can be difficult. That makes retaining students before they leave an important part of the district's long-term planning.
The proposed referendum is one part of a broader effort to address that challenge. Modernized facilities would support expanded educational opportunities, stronger programming, and learning environments designed for today's students. Consolidating and modernizing buildings would also reduce certain operating costs, potentially allowing more resources to be directed toward classrooms, programs, and student services.
Together, these changes are intended to help Rdale offer an educational experience that meets the needs of students and families while supporting the district’s long-term sustainability.
Looking ahead
The Building Better Together: 2026 Bond Referendum asks voters to consider a long-term facilities plan at a time when the district faces aging buildings, declining enrollment, and continued financial pressures.
The three ballot questions would fund different levels of investment, with different tax impacts and facility outcomes.
Our goal is to provide clear information about those choices, how the proposed projects would be funded, and what each question would mean for students, staff, families, and taxpayers.
Explore the proposed projects, ballot questions, and estimated property tax impacts at rdale.referendumfacts.org.
Question 1 | The foundation — approximately $343 million
Question 1 provides the foundation for the district’s long-range facilities plan. It would create one comprehensive high school on the Cooper High School/New Hope Learning Center campus; renovate and repurpose Armstrong High School; complete improvements at Sandburg and Plymouth middle schools; make improvements at elementary schools across the district; relocate several district programs; and address approximately $116 million in long-term facility maintenance needs.
If Question 1 is approved, the estimated tax impact on a home valued at approximately $340,200 would be about $15 per month.
Question 2 | Middle school opportunities — approximately $17 million
Question 2 can only be approved if Question 1 passes. It would add performing arts spaces at the district’s middle schools and move Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion to Plymouth Middle School. Armstrong would then become the district’s Plymouth middle school campus, further reducing the district’s overall facility footprint.
The additional estimated tax impact on a home valued at approximately $340,200 would be about $2 per month.
Question 3 | A new elementary school — approximately $53 million
Question 3 can also only be approved if Questions 1 and 2 pass. It would provide funding to construct a new elementary school on the former Robbinsdale Middle School site, replacing an existing elementary facility as part of the district’s long-term plan.
The additional estimated tax impact on a home valued at approximately $340,200 would be about $8 per month.
If all three questions are approved, the combined estimated tax impact for a home valued at approximately $340,200 would be about $25 per month.
Other Resources
Community meeting recordings
Video: Sept. 23 community meeting at Cooper High School — Full presentation and discussion about the referendum.
Video: Oct. 7 community meeting at Armstrong High School — Full presentation and community questions about the referendum.
Referendum informational videos
Video: Building Better Together overview — Overview of the proposed referendum and what it could mean for the district.
Video: Supporting our staff — How proposed facility improvements could support educators and staff.
Video: Referendum animated explainer — Quick, visual explanation of the proposed investments.
Video: What it could look like — A look at proposed changes to school buildings and learning spaces.
Video: Supporting our students — How proposed investments could support learning environments and student opportunities.
Video: Referendum questions and taxes — Explanation of the ballot questions, estimated tax impacts and funding.
Referendum mailers and printed materials
Mailer: Building Better Together informational brochure — Mailed to all district households on or around Oct. 12, explaining the proposed investments, ballot questions and district financial challenges.
Postcard: Building Better Together community postcard — Sent in September to share referendum information and opportunities for community engagement.
Mailer: Rdale Report, back-to-school issue — Mailed to all district households in mid-August, featuring information about the referendum and other district updates.
In addition to the three Rdale building bond questions, Minnesota voters will see a statewide constitutional amendment related to school funding on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The amendment asks voters whether to change how money from Minnesota’s Permanent School Fund is distributed to school districts. If approved, the annual distribution would increase to 4.5% of the fund’s three-year average value, providing additional funding to school districts across Minnesota beginning in fiscal year 2028. The change would not raise individual income or property taxes.
For Rdale, the change is estimated to provide approximately $27 more per student annually. While helpful, this additional funding would not replace the need for the district’s existing financial plan or the facility investments proposed through the 2026 Building Bond Referendum.
Learn more by watching the video below.
