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Committee approves amendment letting schools renew capital‑projects levies once; SF 14‑60 laid over
Summary
Senate file 14‑60, which would permit school boards to renew a voter‑approved capital projects levy once at the same rate and term, had an A2 amendment adopted to require original ballot language and a public meeting with testimony; the bill was laid over as amended.
Senate file 14‑60 would let school boards renew an existing voter‑approved capital projects levy for the same amount and term once, without returning to voters, provided the board holds a public meeting with opportunity for testimony and follows specified notice and ballot‑language requirements. The committee adopted an amendment to require the original ballot language to disclose the possibility of board renewal and accepted an oral amendment adding an explicit requirement that renewal be preceded by a meeting with public testimony. The bill was laid over as amended.
Author Senator Maquay told the committee capital project levies fund technology, security systems, energy projects and related items and that renewing these small levies by board action could save districts tens of thousands of dollars otherwise spent on an election. "This bill provides an opportunity to save valuable tax dollars and uphold local control for duly elected school boards," said Anna Williams, vice chair of the ISD 196 school board, in testimony supporting the measure.
Testimony from Rosemount‑Apple Valley‑Eagan (ISD 196) and Monticello officials described how capital projects levies fund devices that have become essential to instruction, reduce administrative burdens and help districts keep general fund dollars focused on classroom operations. The committee also heard concerns about transparency: Senator Croon successfully offered an A2 amendment (with an oral modification) that makes the renewal option available going forward only if the original ballot explicitly stated the levy could be renewed by the school board and requires that any renewal be preceded by a public meeting with testimony and clear ballot language.
Committee action: The A2 amendment (with the oral amendment inserting a requirement that renewal be preceded by a public meeting and public testimony and adding ballot language that the authorization may be renewed once by the school board) was adopted. The bill as amended was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill.
Ending: Supporters framed the change as a local‑control, cost‑saving measure that would not raise taxes but would avoid repeated election expenses; some members voiced philosophical concerns about voter transparency and asked that renewal conditions be explicit on the ballot.
