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Greetings,
Next Tuesday is Election Day and I encourage you to vote if you have not done so already. On the ballot is the bond referendum for Mounds View Schools, as well as candidate choices for the school board. You may view a sample ballot here.
Nineteen years ago, my wife Jan and I, along with our three young children, moved to Shoreview in part due to the strong academic performance of Mounds View Schools. All three of our children benefitted greatly from their education in our community’s schools. Over the past two summers, I have engaged with many young families that have moved into our community for the very same reason. Our schools are experiencing an ongoing increase in enrolled students with a record high 84% of resident students choosing our district’s schools for their education. Likewise, the values for homes in our community continue to rise as demand for residency in our school district is high.
The Mounds View Schools referendum is in response to growing enrollment which is at a 16 year high and is expected to increase another 1,600 students in the next 7 years. The funds, if approved, will be invested in adding classrooms at all six elementary schools as well as in various infrastructure projects at the other schools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of each facility.
I am pleased that the school board chose this approach rather than proposing the construction of new schools that would have required a significantly greater investment from our community. Our school board has continually been praised for their fiscal accountability to residents while delivering one of the top 10 school district academic performances across our state. Please join me and vote “yes” for our school district’s bond referendum.
Insurance Rates
The health insurance reforms that were passed during the 2017 Legislative Session helped end a consecutive four-year run of double-digit premium increases (nearly 60% last year). Last month, the Minnesota Department of Commerce released the final rates for the 2018 individual market: UCare customers will see a rate decrease of 13.3%, Preferred One customers will see a rate decrease of 38%, Medica customers will see a rate decrease of .4%, HealthPartners customers will see a rate decrease of 7.5%, and Blue Plus customers will see a small rate increase of 2.8%. Rates would have risen by 20% or more without Legislative action, according to the Department of Commerce. I know that many individuals are still facing unsustainable health insurance premiums and we, at the Legislature, will continue to keep this issue as a top priority as we look ahead to the 2018 Session.
Contact Me
For any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government, please feel free to contact me at either 651-296-0141 or rep.randy.jessup@house.mn.
Thank you for allowing me to represent you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
