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Votes at a glance: Saint Francis board certifies maximum preliminary levy and approves several routine measures
Summary
At its Sept. 22 meeting the Saint Francis Area Schools board certified a maximum preliminary levy related to facility bonds and approved routine items including consent agenda, MSBA delegate resolutions, a community engagement task force charge, and county election judge appointments.
The Saint Francis Area Schools board took several formal actions on Sept. 22. The most significant was certification of the district’s preliminary levy at the maximum allowable amount to support long‑term facility bonds that include indoor‑air‑quality improvements and a parking‑lot/abatement project. The board also approved routine and procedural items.
Key votes and outcomes
- Certification of maximum preliminary levy (2025 levy for 2026 taxes / budget year 2027): The board voted to certify the district’s maximum preliminary levy authority (presented as approximately $16.45 million in staff materials). Staff said the levy package includes debt service for previously approved facility and abatement bonds; presenters estimated the district share of that package would raise school taxes by about $244 annually for a median home value example ($385,000). The motion passed by voice vote; the board will set a final levy at a December truth‑in‑taxation hearing.
- Consent agenda: The board approved a six‑item consent agenda by roll call. No items were removed for separate consideration.
- MSBA delegate resolutions: The board approved two suggested resolutions to the Minnesota School Boards Association delegate assembly regarding election procedures and staffing protections (submitted for delegate consideration at MSBA). The motion passed.
- Charge for a community engagement task force: The board approved establishing a citizen‑based task force to advise on long‑term facility planning, operating pressures and school funding; the district will engage an external facilitator (SiteLogic) at no cost for community engagement support. Motion passed.
- Anoka County election judge appointment: The board approved the appointment of local election judges as required for the upcoming special election/absentee‑voting period; motion passed by voice vote.
Votes and record: Most votes were handled by voice and recorded as “motion prevails.” No formal roll‑call tallies with individual yes/no names were recorded for many items in the transcript; where a roll call occurred it was recorded as an approval.
Next steps: The levy will be revisited in December for final certification at the truth‑in‑taxation hearing. The community engagement task force will begin work with a to‑be‑determined schedule and present recommendations to the board in a future meeting.
