Orono School Board extends 10-year operating levy renewal, elects officers and approves routine financial items

The Orono Independent School District (ISD 278) Board of Education on Jan. 13 voted to renew the district's 10-year operating levy without a public referendum and approved a series of organizational and routine financial items.

The board approved a resolution to extend the operating referendum for another 10 years beginning fiscal 2027 and continuing through fiscal 2036. District staff said the operating levy provides roughly $2,245 per pupil and amounts to about $7.5 million per year, representing approximately 15% of the district's annual budget. "So if we were to go to the, the voters, the inflation factor would basically stall out," said Nick Tainter, the district's director of business services, describing a loss of purchasing power and an estimated roughly $100,000 annual shortfall tied to lost inflation indexing if the board sent the question to voters instead of renewing by board action.

Board members said the renewal has been discussed in multiple public sessions over the past months, including a formal hearing on Dec. 9 and prior presentations by Ellers Financial Services. The district noted voter-approved operating referenda historically date to the 1980s and that past renewals have passed; under recent Minnesota statute changes the board may renew an existing referendum at the same rate and term without another voter election. Board members and former district officials who attended earlier hearings urged the renewal as a matter of financial stewardship.

The meeting also completed the board's annual organizational business following the swearing-in of new and re-elected members earlier in the session. Sarah Borchers was nominated and elected chair; Todd Badson was elected vice chair; Laura Wallander was re-elected clerk;…