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White Bear Lake board approves long‑term facilities maintenance plans, pledges $55,376.72 to regional ISD budget
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Summary
The White Bear Lake Area Schools board approved the district's 10‑year long‑term facilities maintenance (LTFM) plan and a $55,376.72 share of the Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate School District's LTFM budget, backing immediate and multi‑year capital maintenance projects.
The White Bear Lake Area Schools Board of Education on Wednesday approved the district's 10‑year long‑term facilities maintenance plan and a resolution to include the district's $55,376.72 proportionate share of the Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate School District's LTFM budget.
The measures, presented by district staff, passed on roll‑call votes with all board members voting in favor. Board members approved the district plan, which district staff said will guide spending on roofs, HVAC systems, flooring, lighting upgrades and other facility projects over the next decade.
The LTFM program is intended to provide sustainable funding for facilities maintenance, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and health‑and‑safety work. "It is calculated using a blended rate, utilizing net tax capacity and the ratio of ADM utilization by each district," the presenter said, adding, "We're paying 9.3% of that $55,376.72." The board approved a resolution authorizing inclusion of that proportionate share in the district's fiscal‑year 2027 LTFM revenue application.
District staff outlined the district's own 10‑year LTFM plan, saying the district expects about $5 million annually in LTFM levy revenue in the near term and will supplement levy revenue with periodic bond sales. Staff said planned bond sales begin in 2026 with additional sales projected in 2028, 2030 and 2032.
On the expenditure side, staff reported planned LTFM spending of roughly $22 million in fiscal 2026 and $13.5 million in fiscal 2027. "We kind of look at it in a 1‑3‑5 year kind of thing," facilities staffer Kevin Fernandez said, describing immediate repairs (year 1), forecasted periodic maintenance (years 1–3) and longer‑term projects drawn from a 2018 facilities assessment (years 3–5 and beyond)."We know that along the way there will be some unexpected maintenance issues that come up," Fernandez added.
Staff listed specific near‑term projects: boiler replacement at Birch Lake Elementary, chiller replacement and building automation upgrades at Oneka, continued transition to LED lighting, flooring replacements in several buildings, roof and window work, tennis‑court replacement at Mariner, and parking‑lot resurfacing at Badness Heights Elementary and Sunrise. The board packet included a more detailed first‑year project list and broader categorical placeholders for later years.
Board members asked about cost volatility and tariffs; staff said the plan is updated annually and projects may be shifted year to year if materials or labor costs rise. The presenter noted that some planned projects may be deferred temporarily and brought back when costs stabilize.
The board approved both the district's 10‑year LTFM plan and the resolution to accept the intermediate district's program and include a proportionate share in the district's LTFM revenue application. Per district staff, the approved 10‑year plan will be submitted to the Minnesota Commissioner of Education by the July 31 deadline.
Less urgent details, including the full project list and year‑by‑year cash flows, appear in the board packet and will be reviewed with the board in future meetings.
