Mahtomedi board approves preliminary budget, facilities plan and calls Nov. 4 special election for two-question referendum

Mahtomedi Public School District trustees on June 23 approved the district—s 2025-26 preliminary budget, a long-term facilities maintenance plan and a set of routine allocations, then voted unanimously to call a Nov. 4 special election that will ask voters two questions: an operating levy and a facilities bond.

The board approved the resolution to call the special election by roll call after an extended presentation from district administration describing the two ballot questions. The first question would authorize an operating levy that the district estimates would raise the equivalent of $575 per pupil in annual revenue beginning in fiscal year 2026-27. The second question, which the resolution makes dependent on passage of the first, would authorize up to $28 million in facility bonds for security and infrastructure projects.

The administration gave a detailed overview of the facility proposals tied to the bond, including access and security changes at the middle school, accessibility and acoustical upgrades and expanded flexible instructional space at the high school, and an artificial turf athletic field with lights designed for multiple sports. Administrators said the bond would also fund HVAC and other critical infrastructure upgrades.

District officials provided a rough estimate of local tax impact: on a median district home value of about $500,000, the board cited roughly $17 per month for question 1 and about $15 per month for question 2. The board also described outreach plans including a referendum website, videos, print and social-media materials and in-person learning sessions beginning in July.

Before the referendum vote, the board approved several budget- and facilities-related items. The board adopted the district—s long-term facilities…