What is the difference between a levy referendum and a facilities (bond) referendum?
Both are local, school district elections. Levy referendums give school districts the opportunity to ask voters for supplemental funds to support daily operations, including salaries, books, utilities, etc. Levy referendums provide a specific amount of funding per pupil each year for a set number of years. A facilities referendum, more commonly referred to as a bond referendum, asks voters for a specific amount of money to build schools and/or make school facility upgrades. If approved, the district issues bonds to receive funds for the facilities upgrades and pays back the bonds over a period of years, typically 15 to 25. Funds from bond referendums may only be used for facility upgrades, not to supplement operations.
