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Big Lake board certifies preliminary levy at maximum as enrollment lags
Summary
The Big Lake Public School District certified a preliminary levy with a 7.5% increase and a $1.1 million roofing levy component; board members said the district will remove the levy item if a bond referendum passes. Finance staff noted state limits on levy authority and scheduled the required truth-in-taxation hearing for Dec. 17.
The Big Lake Public School District school board voted to certify its preliminary levy at the maximum level, approving a preliminary levy that district staff said represents a 7.5% increase and includes a $1,100,000 levy allowance for roofing projects.
The decision came after a presentation from district finance staff, who said the levy being certified is for the 2026 payable-in-2027 taxes and that the district intends to remove the roofing amount from the levy if a future bond referendum passes. “The state determines what a school can levy,” said Angie, a district finance staff member who presented the levy snapshot to the board. The board set the required truth-in-taxation hearing for Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.
Board members were told the district recommended certifying at the maximum to preserve the district’s ability to capture later state adjustments to levy calculations. Angie told the board the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) sometimes issues changes to levy runs up to Sept. 30 and the district wants to be able to incorporate any corrections.
The board was also briefed on the relationship between the tentative operating levy and any bond results: if voters approve the district’s bond referendum, staff said they would recommend removing the roofing authority from the operating levy to temper tax impacts on property owners.
Context: district enrollment, budget implications The levy vote followed earlier discussion about the district’s enrollment and budget. District staff reported a Day 1 enrollment figure and told the board the district is below its budgeted enrollment of 3,115 students; staff said the shortfall will affect the budget but that the district typically waits about three months of enrollment data before making midyear adjustments.
Board action Motion to certify the preliminary levy at the maximum was made by Board member Shavillion and seconded by Board member Brown. The motion carried by voice vote.
What happens next The board’s certification at the maximum sets an upper bound on what the district may levy; the levy can be reduced later but—absent a successful election—cannot be increased after certification, staff said. The district will present more complete budget information in November and will return to the board in December with any recommended adjustments depending on levy finalization and the outcome of the bond referendum, if applicable.
Ending The board scheduled the required public truth-in-taxation hearing for Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.; staff said additional detailed levy documentation and a final levy recommendation will follow in subsequent meetings.
