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St. Paul HRA approves conduit lease-revenue bonds for two charter schools; Commissioner Yang votes no
Summary
The St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority on Thursday approved two resolutions authorizing the issuance and sale of conduit charter school lease-revenue and refunding bonds under Minnesota Statutes sections 469.152–469.1655 for Nova Classical Academy (1455 Victoria Way) and Twin Cities Academy (690 Birmingham Street), each adopted 4-1.
The St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority on Thursday approved two resolutions authorizing the issuance and sale of conduit charter school lease-revenue and refunding bonds under Minnesota Statutes sections 469.152–469.1655 for Nova Classical Academy (1455 Victoria Way) and Twin Cities Academy (690 Birmingham Street). Both measures passed by 4-1 votes, with Commissioner Yang recorded as the lone dissent.
The approvals came after the authority opened and immediately closed public hearings on each item; no members of the public spoke on either project. The resolutions authorize bond financing and approval of related documents as presented to the authority.
The votes matter because the resolutions use the HRA as a conduit issuer under state statute, enabling the schools to obtain tax-exempt lease-revenue financing. Commissioner Yang said she understands the schools’ stated needs but objected on broader policy grounds. "I will not be voting in support of the condo revenue bonds for charter schools and also private schools too," Yang said, adding that such approvals can have an impact on the public school district and its budget pressures. "When I think about the bigger picture ... it really contributes to the challenges that we're seeing our school district face," she said, and urged more intentional conversations with Saint Paul Public Schools and educators.
Authority staff and school representatives had previously presented the projects in a staff report; because both items were scheduled as public hearings, the HRA held the formal hearings at the meeting but heard no testimony. Vice Chair Jost moved to close the public hearing and approve the Nova Classical Academy resolution; Council President Acre moved to close the public hearing on the Twin Cities Academy item and Chair Johnson moved to approve the Twin Cities Academy resolution.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution authorizing conduit charter school lease-revenue bonds for Nova Classical Academy (1455 Victoria Way; District 9, Ward 3): Adopted, 4-1 (Yes: Vice Chair Jost; Commissioner Naker; Commissioner Provodzke; Chair Johnson. No: Commissioner Yang).
- Resolution authorizing conduit charter school lease-revenue refunding bonds for Twin Cities Academy (690 Birmingham Street; District 1, Ward 7): Adopted, 4-1 (Yes: Vice Chair Jost; Commissioner Naker; Commissioner Provodzke; Chair Johnson. No: Commissioner Yang).
Neither resolution drew public comment at the hearings. The meeting record shows commissioners Bowie and Kim were absent and excused.
The measures reference Minnesota Statutes sections 469.152–469.1655, the state law authorizing local governmental units to issue revenue bonds as conduit issuers for certain nonprofit or private entities. The resolutions as presented approve the issuance and sale of the proposed bonds and related closing documents; specific bond amounts and final financing terms were not stated on the meeting record available in the transcript.
Commissioner Yang said she would elaborate further at the city council meeting later in the day; no additional formal directions to staff or amendments to the resolutions were recorded at the HRA meeting.
