Shakopee Public Schools Seeks Voter Approval for Technology Levy Renewal in November Election

In the 2024 general election, Shakopee residents will have the opportunity to vote on the renewal of the Shakopee Public Schools' Capital Projects Levy, commonly referred to as the "Safety & Technology Levy”.  Approved in 2015 for a ten-year term, the levy is set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 school year. The school district is seeking voter approval to renew the existing levy at the same tax rate and under the same terms for an additional decade.

If approved, the renewed levy will continue to fund key safety measures, such as the Raptor Visitor Management System, security cameras, and badge/lock devices. Additionally, it will provide ongoing support for technology used by students and educators alike, including the 1:1 device program that equips every student with access to digital learning tools. The levy also helps maintain other software platforms used to track student progress and manage communication across the district.

The district estimates that the levy will generate approximately $6.2 million in annual revenue, starting with the 2026-27 school year. Without this funding, Shakopee Public Schools face a significant financial gap that could impact both safety measures and educational programming.

One point emphasized by district leaders is that renewing the levy will not result in an increase in the property tax rate. The current tax rate of 5.838 percent, based on the district's net tax capacity, will remain unchanged.

The district scheduled two community forums this fall to provide information about the levy. The first forum took place in September, but the final community forum will be held on Wednesday, October 9, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Shakopee High School’s Studio Theater. The district encourages residents to attend and learn more about the impact of the levy on school safety and technology infrastructure.

Election Day is November 5, early voting began on September 20.

Additional information can be found at www.ShakoTechRenew.org

A tax impact calculator is also available here.