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Resident says school board renewed operating levy without voter notice
Summary
During public comment at a Big Lake Public School District board meeting, resident Timothy Myers said the board renewed an operating levy in January 2024 without notifying taxpayers; he called for greater transparency and said many residents only learned of the renewal months later.
Timothy Myers, a resident of the Big Lake Public School District, told the school board that he and other district residents were not notified after the board voted in January 2024 to renew an operating levy without a local vote.
Myers said the Minnesota Legislature in 2023 passed a law allowing school boards to renew an operating levy once without local voter approval, and he complained that the Big Lake board used that authority “without our vote.” He said he did not receive a notification explaining the board’s action and that many neighbors also reported they were unaware of the renewal until February 2025 after contacting district administration. “Apparently, $22,400,000 of our money is not worthy of such a mailing,” Myers said during public comment.
Myers contrasted that renewal with three district ballot questions later in 2024 that sought additional funding and for which the district mailed multi-page color announcements to every address. He said those mailings showed the district knew how to notify voters when a ballot decision was required but did not notify residents when the board exercised the renewal authority.
Myers urged the board to require that, if it were to authorize any special election in the future, the district should not rely on internal surveys unless it can show each survey response came from a single eligible voter residing in the district. He said the district should clearly explain alternatives to taxpayer funding when asking for support.
Board members did not take formal action during the public-comment period on Myers’s remarks. The board proceeded to other agenda items, including approval of consent items and facilities planning.
The board did not provide additional details in the meeting record about notice procedures the district used in January 2024 or how many residents were mailed any specific communications about the renewal. The transcript and meeting remarks indicate residents raised awareness concerns but do not record a follow-up staff directive or change to notification practice during the session.
