Red Wing board approves maximum 2026 levy for initial state certification at $10.22 million

The Red Wing Public School District board voted Sept. 22 to approve submitting a maximum levy for 2026 of $10,220,000 as the district’s initial levy certification to the state.

Administration explained the levy-certification process and noted that levy sheets received from the state are updated frequently. Officials said a long-term facilities maintenance (LTMF) line item initially appeared as missing on some runs of the levy sheets (about $900,000) but was later included in subsequent updates; an ice arena levy line (operational levy) of about $228,000 also appeared on and off levy runs and was being tracked with the state. Because the initial certified levy is binding as an upper limit, the administration recommended certifying the maximum to allow flexibility; the board approved that approach.

The board also reported that auditors are completing fieldwork and that fund financials — which feed into final budget decisions — will likely be available in October, with a final audit presentation tentatively scheduled for early November.

Board members asked clarifying questions about enrollment-driven revenue assumptions and were told district enrollment is currently close to prior projections, with the high school up roughly 50 students and the Power View program near 70 students. The board approved the motion to submit a maximum levy for 2026 by the state deadline.

Next steps include finalizing numbers for the district’s truth-in-taxation meeting later this fall and incorporating updated state aid runs into the final levy recommendation.