School administrators are staring down a triple-barreled threat.
State aid for schools is frozen. Minnesota is borrowing more than $2 billion in funding promised to schools to help balance the books, forcing districts to dip into their reserves and take out loans. And lawmakers still need to fill in an additional $1 billion shortfall.
So does that mean school districts should have more authority to raise property taxes without voter approval? Some education leaders believe so. The notion has been batted around for years but never gained traction.
"In any other year, I would be horrified by the idea," said Rep. Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville. "But I will consider this as a short-term solution. Education funding should be from the state. But schools need a lifeline right now."
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