The Hopkins School Board voted to certify the district's property tax levy for taxes payable in 2026 at $73,051,535, an increase of 5.9% over the prior year. Interim Director of Business Services Didi Kering presented the levy at the required Truth in Taxation hearing and the board approved the certification by voice vote.

Kering said the levy total comprises three funds: the General Fund ($52,549,730.50), Community Service ($1,003,859.33), and Debt Service ($19,497,946.03). "The total amount of the levy will be 73,051,535," she told the board; she also explained that the largest increase is in debt service tied to a voter-approved bond referendum and that the general fund will increase by approximately 3%.

Kering reviewed typical drivers of levy changes, including referenda equalization, student counts and market value, and showed example taxpayer impacts prepared by the district's municipal advisors. For example, district illustrations showed incremental changes for representative properties; staff emphasized those figures were preliminary and subject to final audit and state reporting.

The district opened a Truth in Taxation public hearing as required by state law and allowed time for public comment restricted to property taxes; no members of the public spoke during the hearing. After the hearing the board moved to certify the levy at the presented totals and approved the motion by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will finalize the levy certification paperwork and submit the required documentation to county and state authorities per statutory timelines.