School finance director recommends certifying maximum preliminary levy; board votes to approve at maximum

Robbinsdale Area Schools’ finance staff recommended that the board certify the district’s preliminary property tax levy at the maximum permitted amount on Sept. 23, allowing staff flexibility while state assessments and county calculations finish updating.

The recommendation covered taxes payable in 2026, which will fund the 2026–27 school year; staff emphasized that certifying the maximum is an administrative step that preserves flexibility before final figures are set at later public meetings. Assistant or Executive Director of Finance (presenter identified in the meeting materials) explained that state updates often continue after the board’s September deadline and that certifying the maximum allows staff to accommodate minor adjustments before final certification in mid‑December.

Why it matters: The levy is the district’s first major revenue planning marker for next year’s budget. Certifying the maximum does not commit the board to a specific final dollar amount; the board will hold a Truth in Taxation hearing on Dec. 1 and must finalize levy certification by Dec. 15, 2025.

Key figures and explanation: Finance staff walked the board through levy categories and changes from last year, noting enrollment-driven decreases in several categories and increases tied to inflationary formula adjustments for existing voter‑approved referenda. Staff cited a tentative total levy figure in the $77.5 million range presented on the slides (presentation showed a small swing of about $50,000 between an earlier run and the most recent update). The district’s renewed technology levy is projected to provide roughly $7 million annually beginning this school year, with about two‑thirds for technology and one‑third for safety and security projects.

State and timing constraints: Finance staff emphasized the compressed calendar. Preliminary levies must be submitted to the county by Sept. 30; estimated property statements with taxpayer impacts typically arrive to residents in mid‑November; the board will host a Truth in Taxation hearing on Dec. 1 and is scheduled to finalize levy certification on Dec. 15.

Board action and vote: Director Bowman moved and Director Bassett seconded a motion to certify the preliminary levy at the maximum; the board approved the motion in a roll call vote, 6–1. Director Caroline Long cast the lone no vote. Directors Bassett, Bowman, Chair Greta Evans Becker, Aviva Hillenbrand, Kim Holmes and Kenneth Wuto voted yes.

What the vote does and does not do: Certifying the maximum gives administration room to adjust to final state and county calculations; the board can still set the specific levy amounts at the December certification meeting after the Truth in Taxation hearing.

Ending: Administration said it would return with updated levy figures and voter‑information materials in advance of the December hearing.