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Faribault board approves preliminary levy, notes enrollment increase and Riverbend contract
Summary
The Faribault Public School District board approved a preliminary 2025 (payable 2026) maximum property tax levy, noted a student enrollment uptick, and approved a one-year contract with Riverbend Nature Center with a small cost increase.
At its Sept. 22 meeting the Faribault Public School District Board approved a preliminary property tax levy for 2025 payable in 2026 and approved the district’s annual agreement with Riverbend Nature Center. The board also heard that fall enrollment exceeded initial projections by about 161 students, bringing the district’s enrollment to roughly 3,218 for fiscal year 2026.
Why this matters: the preliminary levy sets the maximum amount the district may ask taxpayers to pay; final levy figures and tax impacts are set later in the Truth in Taxation process. Enrollment increases affect state aid calculations and the budget outlook.
Finance staff (Miss Raesler) told the board that the district was not approving a final dollar figure at the preliminary-levy stage but rather a maximum because final state (MDE) data were not yet vetted. Raesler said the district is projecting a 2.22% decrease in property-tax revenue for the levy year but cautioned the figure could be refined as final data are received.
On the Riverbend Nature Center agreement, finance staff reported a 1.8% cost increase from the prior year — about $600 higher for pre-K through sixth-grade services; high-school programming remains at $6,000. The board approved the standard letter-of-agreement with Riverbend.
Actions and votes recorded at the meeting: - The preliminary 2025 (payable 2026) maximum property tax levy was approved by the board (motion passed by recorded voice; motion recorded as passing 6-0). - The board approved the fiscal-year 2025–26 Riverbend Nature Center contract (motion passed; vote taken by voice).
Discussion points included the finance committee’s recommendation to approve the maximum levy at this stage, the effect of increased enrollment on the budget, and routine quarterly investment and comparative financial reports that noted higher self-insurance contributions due to a 15% premium increase.
The board’s next major budget review will occur during the district’s Truth in Taxation presentation in December, when final levy figures and fund-by-fund impacts will be presented.
