The Richfield School Board unanimously approved certification of the final levy for 2025, payable in 2026, totaling $34,629,964.55 following a Truth-in-Taxation presentation.

District finance presenter Craig Holzke opened the public hearing, calling it “a public hearing for taxes payable in 2026,” and outlined the legal and practical steps required by Minnesota statute. Holzke said the state general education formula provides $7,481 per pupil for the 2026 school year, a 2.75% increase from $7,281 the previous year, and warned that state funding has not kept pace with inflation over the long term.

The proposed levy reflected a 1.2% increase in local revenue driven by several adjustments in the district’s levy calculation, including prior-year adjustments (+$302,541), a voter-approved referendum decrease (-$242,488), and debt service abatement adjustments (+$458,564) linked to reduced property valuations. Holzke said Hennepin County distributes notices of proposed taxes to property owners and emphasized that taxes collected in 2026 will fund the district’s July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 budget.

Board members asked procedural and clarification questions about how previous referendum timing affected mailed tax notices; Holzke explained that county tax notices reflect what is authorized at the time they are prepared. No members of the public signed up to comment during the hearing.

Director Banks Kaptur moved to certify the final levy; Director Kirk Spencer seconded. The board voted in favor and the chair cast an aye, approving certification of the $34,629,964.55 levy.

Next steps: the levy is certified and staff will proceed with the administrative steps required by the county; action did not have to be taken before Dec. 30 but was approved at the Dec. 1 meeting.