Steven Potter:
Let me ask very directly — are all of these referendums due to the low levels of special education funding in our public school system?

State Sen. Chris Larson:
Most of them are. We've had referendums since well before these huge cuts that have happened. But looking at the rate of increases in how these referendums are happening, definitely with frequency. Last year alone, we had 241 referendums. That was a record. You'd have to go back to 1998 to come anywhere near it. Then this year, we've had 89 just in the spring. I think it's 68% of them would've been unnecessary if you actually funded special education at that level. So all other things being equal, that is a piece where the state is not living up to its obligation. It's forcing the locals to make up the difference, and our kids are getting left with less of an education as a result.