Sartell‑St. Stephen board hears Truth‑in‑Taxation presentation, approves 2024 (payable 2025) levy

The Sartell‑St. Stephen School Board approved the district's 2024 property tax levy payable in 2025 after a Truth in Taxation presentation from Joe Prow, the district's director of finance. The board voted to adopt the levy at its December meeting following the required public hearing.

Prow told the board the district's total levy by fund for the year is $14,672,000, compared with $13,478,417 in the previous year — a difference of about $1,193,583 (roughly 4.48 percent). He said state equalization aid decreased by about $349,000 this year, shifting a larger share of revenue to the local levy. The presentation listed increases and decreases across levy categories: an increase of about $523,000 in the general fund levy (operating referendum), about $184,000 for career and technical levies, and a change in the district's lease levy tied to potential future lease payments discussed earlier this year.

Prow described the district's general fund as being funded mostly by state aids (about 80 percent) and said levies account for roughly 11 percent of total general fund revenue. He explained that, unlike many other jurisdictions, the district's budget does not drive the levy: statutory formulas and Department of Education calculations determine levy limits, with the district providing inputs such as enrollment estimates.

On fund health, Prow said the district's audited unassigned fund balance at the end of 2023‑24 was 14.2 percent; board policy sets a target of 10 percent or above. He said that, historically, the district's fund balance rose after a 2019 operating levy and has hovered around the mid‑teens; it is projected to be about 12 percent at the end of 2024‑25.

Prow outlined homeowner impacts under current and recently changed state provisions. He described a market value exclusion that reduces taxable value for lower‑valued homesteads and noted the district's market value rose about 4.23 percent in 2024. Using examples from his slides, Prow said a house valued at $300,000 that remained at the same valuation would see taxes decline by about 1.67 percent, while a house whose value rose by 4 percent would see taxes increase by about 2.64 percent after accounting for the exclusion.

"Any questions you have related to, this local levy could be directed at me. Any questions that people have regarding the property value, I just point them towards the assessor's office," Prow said during the meeting.

After the presentation and a brief period for board questions, the board voted to approve the 2024 levy payable in 2025. The motion to approve the levy was moved and seconded during the meeting and carried by voice vote.

Why this matters: the levy adopted by the board establishes the district's locally levied property tax revenue for the coming budget year and is a key input to the district's 2025‑26 budget. The presentation made clear how shifts in state equalization aid and statutory formulas affect local taxpayers and district revenue.

The district indicated the preliminary levy was approved in September and that the amount presented at the Truth in Taxation hearing did not change after that date because voters did not call for a referendum in November.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve the 2024 property tax levy payable in 2025. Mover: Jason Beese (motion recorded as moved), Second: Jen (recorded as second). Outcome: approved (voice vote).

Questions about property valuations were directed to the county assessor by Prow; the board did not change the levy amount during the meeting.