A survey of 400 registered voters in the Austin Public School District reveals that most would be in favor of increasing the operating referendum Nov. 3.

Conducted by phone July 18-23, the survey showed 79.3 percent of those surveyed said they would be in favor of renewing a referendum; 63.8 percent said they would be in favor of renewing and increasing; and 65.8 percent said they may favor increasing if they had more information. It was the second survey conducted; the first was in December 2008.

Lori Volz, director of finance and operations, gave a report Monday night to the Austin School Board, who will vote Aug. 19 on whether to ask voters for an increase, rather than just a renewal.

“Overall, it’s very, very positive information,” said Lori Volz, director of finance and operations. “The margin of undecided voters is very small, which is good.”

Currently, the district has three operating referendums; the district would like to roll them into one for the election this fall. The first, at $264,285, expires in November 2010; the second, at $1.3 million, expires in November 2011; and the third, at $2.1 million, expires in 2013. The three bring in $1.9 million per year for the district. State aid accounts for an additional $1.6 million of revenue.

The district has not discussed what will be done about the third referendum.

Springsted, the consultant the district utilized for the survey, interpreted the data and gave a recommendation to the district.

According to the survey, 58.5 percent of voters would favor a property tax increase of $79 per year on a home assessed at $100,000 (the average value for an Austin home.). Other results show 51.3 percent would favor an increase of $97, and 44.3 percent approved of a $115 increase.

Averaging the responses, Springsted recommended an $84 increase.

“The level of support for not only renewal but increase on the operating referendum has improved since the December survey,” Volz said.

She attributes the change in the much-publicized two-year freeze in education funding at the state level, as well as Austin’s economy.

“The local economy is in a slightly better condition than the rest of Minnesota,” Volz said.

One survey question asked whether voters are more likely to vote in favor of an increase after learning about the freeze in funding — 64 percent said they would.

Voters were also polled an open-ended question about what they feel is the biggest challenge the district is facing today. According to the survey, 26.6 percent said finances and lack of funding; 17.5 percent said the budget and budget cuts. Volz said the fact the top two responses concerned finances shows voters understand what the district is up against.

“Overall, it showed a great concern of Austin Public Schools,” Volz said. “Quite a large number of voters recognize a lack of funding.”

The district is entering the 2009-2010 school year with a balanced budget; the next year — the second half of the biennium freeze — could be different story. Volz has said program cuts — including staff — could be an option if the operating referendum fails this fall.

After 2010-2011, another state funding freeze is possible, Volz said.

“If the state has to implement another biennium freeze … we will be back with more financial challenges,” Volz said. “It’s hard to say if the State of Minnesota’s economy will turn around.”