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 maintenance (LTFM) plan, an annual submission the administration said will run from 2026 through 2035 with a focus on FY2026-27 projects. The FY2026-27 priorities listed by staff include stadium turf maintenance, gym inspections and refinishing, parking-lot crack repair and seal-coating, carpet replacement at Wildwood, periodic septic maintenance at Wildwood, targeted HVAC repairs and some salary costs allocated to facilities work; staff said later-year items are subject to change depending on needs and funding.

The board also approved a routine allocation for the Northeast Metro 916 joint LTFM levy for which the administration said every member district levies its share; the district—s portion was described in the meeting as just under $19,000. Trustees approved donations and grants for May 2025 totaling $14,537.25.

On the budget, the director of finance summarized changes since the board—s June review: roughly $100,000 in state aid reductions in targeted categorical programs, roughly $102,000 in added costs (including added lease costs for student devices and engineering costs tied to a Safe Routes to School project), and larger structural pressures that the presentation characterized as producing a roughly $2.2 million unfavorable movement in the district—s financial position absent other offsets. The director noted the state kept a 2.74% inflationary increase in basic education aid that translated to about $705,000 in district revenue and said the board will revisit the budget during the winter review cycle.

Separately, the board approved a resolution to cooperate with Washington County on a Safe Routes to School sidewalk project. District staff said the district—s portion is roughly a 500-linear-foot paved trail segment adjacent to the school campus; construction cost for the segment is covered by a federal Safe Routes to School grant administered through the Minnesota Department of Transportation, which staff estimated at about $150,000 for the construction portion. Administration said approximately $50,000 in soft costs (engineering and related expenses) are not covered by the grant and were included in the district—s budget as district expenses. Staff said the county will assemble an engineering package this summer, with construction procurement expected to begin in about August of next year and a deadline to commit funds in December 2026.

All formal motions and resolutions on the agenda passed. After completing business, the board voted to move into a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.03 to discuss labor negotiations.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of donations and grants (May 2025) totaling $14,537.25: Moved by Director Regan; seconded by Director Whitson; motion carried. No roll call recorded.

- Approval of Northeast Metro 916 LTFM allocation (district share described as just under $19,000): Moved by Director Donna; seconded by Director Peterson; motion carried. No roll call recorded.

- Approval of Mahtomedi Public School District long-term facilities maintenance plan (LTFM) for 2026—2035, with emphasis on FY2026-27 projects: Moved by Director Regan; seconded by Director Dohmen; motion carried.

- Approval of the 2025-26 preliminary budget (presentation of revenue/expense changes and fund-balance estimates; board to revisit in winter): Moved by Director Whitson; seconded by Director Donna; motion carried.

- Resolution authorizing cooperation with Washington County for a Safe Routes to School walkway (district project: ~500 linear feet; construction covered by grant; ~ $50,000 soft costs not covered): Moved by Director Peterson; seconded by Director Regan; roll-call recorded and motion passed.

- Resolution calling a special election Nov. 4 for a two-question referendum (question 1: operating levy equivalent to $575 per pupil beginning 2026-27; question 2: up to $28 million facilities bond, dependent on Q1): Moved by Director Doman; seconded by Director Donna; unanimous roll-call vote in favor.

What the board said and asked

Finance director Tim Erickson outlined the budget changes and told the board the district will monitor enrollment this summer and revisit budget assumptions in January-February. Adam (staff member) summarized the facility priorities in the LTFM submission and said the list drew on a 2021-22 facility assessment by SiteLogic and engineer recommendations from Boltman Mink.

Board members repeatedly emphasized that calling a referendum was not a step taken lightly and asked staff to provide clearer detail on what program and staffing reductions could look like if the operating question fails; the board directed staff to produce that additional reduction-detail for community information.

Background and next steps

If the district proceeds with the election schedule described by staff, early voting is expected to begin Sept. 19 with the special election on Nov. 4. Administrators said outreach will include town-hall style "referendum learning sessions" (the first of which the district listed as July 16 at the high school media center) plus online videos, printed materials and social-media outreach. The board—s approval of the resolution begins the formal process to place the two questions on the special-election ballot.

The meeting closed with a roll-call vote to enter a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.03 to discuss labor negotiations.