During a recent government meeting, school district officials discussed the preliminary levy for fiscal year 2026, emphasizing the need for board approval by the end of September. The preliminary levy is crucial as it determines the tax revenue collected from the community for the following year. The district is not expecting any new revenue streams but is working with preliminary numbers provided by the state, which are still subject to correction.

Bill, the district's finance officer, highlighted that if the preliminary levy is not approved, the district could face a significant loss of $80 million in funding. He explained that the levy is based on student enrollment, which has not met projections this year, resulting in a decrease in expected revenue. The district anticipated an increase of 200 students but only saw an increase of 100, leading to adjustments in staffing and budget expectations.

The discussion also covered various components of the levy, including operating levies and equity revenue, which are influenced by the number of students enrolled. The district is preparing for a potential new operating levy that could further impact these numbers. Additionally, officials noted that while some areas of funding are expected to decrease due to lower enrollment, others, such as vocational programs, may see slight increases.

In a related matter, the city of Lakeville is planning a road project that will temporarily affect the school district's property. The city is seeking a temporary easement for construction, which will involve replacing sidewalks and removing a few trees. The city has offered compensation for the inconvenience, which will be used to replant trees after the project is completed.

Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of timely decisions regarding the levy to ensure adequate funding for the school district's operations and programs in the coming fiscal year.