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School board approves calling Nov. 4 bond referendum after facilities task force recommendations
Summary
The board voted to call a November 4 building bond referendum that would fund $85 million in prioritized facility improvements recommended by a 27‑member facilities task force; finance staff described a bonding schedule intended to produce no net tax increase for property owners.
The Minnetonka School Board voted June 26 to place a building bond referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot seeking $85 million to fund prioritized facility improvements identified by a community facilities task force.
Executive Director of Finance and Operations Paul Bourgeois summarized the two‑year process: a 27‑member facilities task force met 15 times, toured buildings and recommended a list of needs; the board and staff synthesized recommendations into an $85 million initial ask covering the highest priorities. Bourgeois said the Minnesota Department of Education provided a positive review of the proposal in April.
Bourgeois told the board the district modeled a multi‑tranche bonding strategy intended to “literally have no net tax impact.” He explained the plan would time new bond levies to begin as older bond payments decline so that the total levy burden on property owners would remain effectively unchanged. He said the strategy reduced an initial estimate of about $4.99 per month on a $500,000 home and produced a plan the district projects will keep taxes flat for property owners while funding the work.
Why it matters: the referendum would be the district’s first building bond election since 1996 and would fund projects that district staff and the facilities task force identified as the most pressing building needs across elementary, middle and high schools.
Board members expressed support for acquiring additional space where possible, investing in middle schools and taking advantage of market availability for adjacent parcels. Several members thanked task force volunteers and staff for the study and described the plan as a cautious approach to invest in buildings while minimizing tax impact.
The board approved a resolution calling the Nov. 4 election; members recorded aye votes and the motion carried. Bourgeois said more community outreach will follow if the board proceeds, and that construction would be phased across several bond tranches with work starting in 2026 and phasing through 2029 depending on the tranche.
