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Voters in Minneapolis and Saint Paul both have ballot questions seeking to raise property taxes
The ballot question in Minneapolis would raise money for public schools, while the measure in Saint Paul would support child-care subsidies.
MINNEAPOLIS — Voters in Minneapolis and Saint Paul both have questions on their ballots Tuesday asking whether they want to raise property taxes in order to fund public schools and child-care subsidies, respectively.
Here’s what you need to know about the measures.
MINNEAPOLIS
The ballot question in Minneapolis seeks to generate $20 million for the Minneapolis Public Schools’ technology fund — but don’t be confused by the term “technology levy.” According to the district, funding for technology would not substantially change if the measure is passed. Instead, the money would help offset cuts to other programs and services and would bolster the district’s general fund, at a time when MPS is struggling with declining enrollment, inflation and the expiration of federal COVID funding.
“Deciding on candidates for president and other offices is not the only important decision Minneapolis voters have to make tomorrow,” MPS Senior Finance Officer Ibrahima Diop said. “Voters also need to consider this technology levy question. It’s just one way MPS is working to raise revenue, stabilize its financial situation and ensure a secure future for all students.”
The measure is supported by the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, including Marcia Howard, who said it’s critical “in order to make sure our kids have what they need.”
Although there are no organized groups in opposition to the proposal, property tax hikes are always a tough sell with the public. In this case, Minneapolis voters would be approving an increase of $8 per year on the median homeowner in order to fund the money for the Minneapolis Public Schools.
“I’ll say this, as the president of the MFT teachers’ chapter, you best believe the teachers will be holding our district accountable for those funds,” Howard said, “and how they’re being used. We want transparency and we want accountability.”
SAINT PAUL
Across the river in Saint Paul, a ballot question asks voters whether they want to raise property taxes in order to fund $20 million over 10 years, to help largely low-income families pay for child care.
The median homeowner in the city would see a $16 increase per year, if approved.
Daniel Cox, the campaign manager for Yes For Saint Paul Families, canvassed in Saint Paul on Monday and urged voters to support the measure.
“Anyone who has kids, or knows someone who has kids, or has grandkids, understands really viscerally the impact of child-care costs,” Cox said. “For a lot of families, child-care is their largest single household expense.”
This measure has been subject to a lot of discussion and back-and-forth over the past few years. Council Member Rebecca Noecker is one of the measure’s biggest supporters, saying it’s a vital need in the city.
But Council President Mitra Jalali, Mayor Melvin Carter, and the Saint Paul Federation of Educators have all come out against the proposal. Carter says the money generated won’t be nearly enough to cover all the families that need child-care assistance, while the educators’ union has said that the program would lead to a privatized “voucher” system.
Ten years ago, Eleanor Evenson arrived early and suddenly at a Lino Lakes McDonald’s.
LINO LAKES, Minn. — Surrounded by family, Eleanor Evenson celebrated her 10th birthday at a fitting location: The McDonald’s restaurant where she entered the world.
“I think it’s kind of unique,” Eleanor says. “I’m the only one in my family that was born at a McDonalds.”
Ten years ago, Eleanor’s parents and her grandmother were driving north on I-35 in Lino Lakes when Eleanor’s mom felt the need to use a bathroom.
“Notoriously, McDonald’s has really clean bathrooms,” laughs Clare Evenson, who now lives, with her family, in Minnetonka.
Clare says she went into the stall in the women’s restroom, “and quite literally two little feet popped out.”
Clare’s baby was arriving 12 weeks early – breech.
Eric Evenson, Eleanor’s dad, had remained in the car with his mother-in-law who began to wonder why Clare was taking so long.
“As soon as we got out of the car, we could hear the screaming – so then we ran in,” Eric says.
Eric helped move Clare from the stall to the bathroom floor.
Not long after, Angi Kruyer, at the time a Centennial Lakes police officer, responded to a call for help.
“When I threw open the door, what a sight it was,” Angi says. “I just started barking orders.”
Clare lay on a blanket a customer had retrieved from her own car.
“I do remember officer Angi and my mom helping me deliver Eleanor,” Clare says. “And when she was out, officer Angi and I working together to resuscitate her.”
Clare, a registered nurse, could see that Eleanor wasn’t breathing. Clare performed chest compressions, while Angi used a mask and bag to help Eleanor breathe.
When she arrived by ambulance at the hospital, Eleanor weighed just two pounds.
Her McDonald’s birth earned a short story in the StarTribune.
But Eleanor’s recovery lingered far beyond the time frame of breaking news.
Eleanor spent the first 113 days of her life in the neonatal intensive care unit at Gillette Children’s Hospital, and that was far from the end of it.
“I think we were re-admitted a dozen times,” her father says.
“She had nurses at home until she went to kindergarten,” Clare adds.
A chromosome abnormality meant Eleanor would need multiple surgeries and years of therapy.
So, Eleanor’s 10th birthday is a big reason to celebrate.
Eleanor agrees, saying, she’s “very excited to be 10.”
Clare and Eric talked with their daughter and decided the perfect place for her birthday party would be the McDonald’s where Eleanor started her life.
It would be their first trip back, exactly 10 years to the day of Eleanor’s birth.
“Happy Birthday!” Eleanor’s grandmother shouts as Eleanor enters the McDonald’s with her parents and two younger sisters.
She spends the next few minutes exchanging hugs and kisses with relatives, including an honorary member of the family.
“Hi, birthday girl, how are you?” officer Angi asks Eleanor as the two embrace. “Look how tall you are!” an amazed Angi says.
“I’m not a nurse, I’m not a doctor, I’m just a cop, but she’s my success,” the proud officer, now working for Metro Transit, says. “She’s healthy, she’s 10. I never thought 10 years ago that we would see this day.”
A McDonald’s employee delivers cake to the party. The restaurant also presents Eleanor with a present, a purse in the shape of an oversized container of McDonald’s french fries.
“I supposed you would remember someone giving birth in your McDonald’s,” Clare says” But they were so kind and so welcoming and now,” she laughs, “I’ve destroyed the place twice.”
And maybe they’ll be back.
After all, next year is Eleanor’s golden birthday.
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Authorities are investigating a propane tank explosion in Clearwater County that left five children and an adult hurt.
BAGLEY, Minn. — Five children and an adult man are hurt after a propane explosion in northern Minnesota.
It happened just north of Bagley in Clearwater County Monday at about 12:30 p.m., officials said, at a storage unit on 370th Street.
According to the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office, the adult man was there with five children, ages ranging from 6 to 14 years old.
The preliminary investigation indicates there was a propane tank inside the metal storage unit that was leaking. When doors opened and the man lit a cigarette, officials said the explosion ensued.
The sheriff’s office did not know the current conditions of the people hurt but said all of them suffered burns. People passing by were able to help the victims before first responders arrived.
According to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, 528 schools registered for the mock election this year.
SAINT PAUL, Minn — More than 300,000 students at 528 schools across Minnesota are voting in a mock election leading up to and on Election Day, according to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Students Voting is an initiative led by the Secretary of State and YMCA Center for Youth Voice to help young people learn how to vote.
At Central High School in St. Paul, 16-year-old Cecily cast her ballot early. The high school junior is looking forward to casting an official ballot when she becomes eligible to vote in a real election.
“I’m very excited to be able to formally participate in this part of our democracy,” she said. “It’s how you get to put your voice out there.”
As of Monday evening, nearly 30,000 students had cast their ballots across the state. You can track the mock election results in real-time by clicking here.
Social studies teacher Stephanie McCleerey has been in charge of the mock election at Central for years.
“It’s super important for students to grow up practicing this because research shows that when students go through the process and practice, they’re more likely that first time after graduating to cast their ballot, get themselves registered and vote and participate in the process,” she explained.
Emotions about the election are mixed and some students are experiencing anxiety, McCleerey said. She added it’s always best to lead by example.
“We just try and be good role models, try and alleviate some of the anxiety,” McCleerey said. “We aren’t maybe gonna know the answer come Tuesday night by midnight, but we’re still gonna be here, we’re still gonna be in it together.”
Seventeen-year-old Brayan said he hopes he can motivate young people to make their voices heard in future elections.
“Not many people vote, especially my age, because they think it doesn’t matter or it’s not important, but it is important,” he said.
