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Senate file 11‑98 would let school boards levy for roof replacement; A1 amendment adopted
Summary
Senate file 11‑98, which would expand long‑term facilities maintenance levy authority to allow school boards to fund large roof replacement projects, received testimony from superintendents and facilities staff and had an A1 amendment adopted before the measure was laid over.
Senate file 11‑98, a proposal to expand local levy authority for long‑term facilities maintenance to better cover roof repair and replacement, drew testimony from facility managers, superintendents and school business officials who described aging roofs, insurance problems, and the high cost of deferred maintenance.
The bill’s author told the committee the statute currently gives broad levy authority for the state’s largest 27 districts but caps revenue for roughly 300 smaller districts, leaving many unable to keep pace with pandemic era construction inflation. "Quality roofs are necessary for indoor air quality, health and safety, energy efficiency, and structural integrity for the rest of the building," the author said.
In testimony, Jason Splitt of ICS summarized a roof survey for 56 northern Minnesota districts covering more than 10.5 million square feet. Splitt categorized roof conditions as green (installed within 10 years), yellow (11–20 years) and red (20+ years) and described examples where districts faced multi‑million dollar replacement costs. Seth Putz, an operations and maintenance supervisor, described multiple roof leaks after the last snowstorm and said many districts have pushed repairs for years until they face emergency failures; he said greater LTFM authority for roof projects would be "an absolute game changer."
Monticello business official Tina Burkholder and others told the panel that insurance markets are reacting to aging roofs by raising premiums, increasing deductibles or declining coverage, which amplifies the fiscal pressure on districts.
Committee action: Senator Farnsworth moved an A1 amendment recommended by the Department of Education to ensure fund accounting; the committee adopted the A1 amendment by voice vote. The bill was then laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus education bill.
Ending: Supporters said the change would let districts pursue long‑term, cost‑effective roof replacements and avoid emergency repairs and insurance losses; committee staff were asked to assist with the bill’s fiscal framing as it moves forward.
