Saint Francis Area Schools certified the district’s 2025 (payable 2026) final tax levy at $16,465,788 on a vote of the school board after a truth‑in‑taxation hearing and extended public comment.

Superintendent Anderson opened the hearing and finance staff walked the board and public through the district budget, fund balances and the statutory levy certification process. Presenters said a $3,468,000 increase (about 26.7%) in the levy was driven largely by debt service related to recently issued facility and abatement bonds, including projects described as indoor air quality improvements and parking‑lot abatement. The staff presentation highlighted that roughly 80% of general‑fund spending supports direct student instruction and that different levy lines (general fund levy, community services, debt service) are determined under state formulas.

Members of the public voiced a mix of concerns and support. Lisa Valley, who identified herself as a long‑time district resident, said she supports safe schools but asked for more information about the terms and repayment schedule for the abatement work and urged the board to consider delaying or phasing the project to ease taxpayer burden. “What are those terms? Rate? Time to pay back?” she asked during public comment. Others, including residents who said their property tax notices showed increases of 20–40%, urged clearer, earlier communications about the levy.

Board members and staff responded that the indoor air quality and abatement bond issuances were discussed publicly through the facilities committee and at prior board meetings beginning in June and that some levy components are controlled by state statute rather than local choice. A board member noted that, because the district does not have an operating referendum, certain local options and other levies are set by state rules and can create the appearance of a single large increase.

When the board took action to certify the levy, Mister Anderson moved the motion to approve the 2025 payable 2026 final tax levy certification at $16,465,788; Mister Shonak seconded. The motion carried and the levy was certified as presented. The district will submit the required levy certification to county authorities for collection in 2026.

The district’s finance presentation and supporting materials, including house‑level examples of tax impact and a breakdown of levy components, are available on the Saint Francis Area Schools facility planning and finance pages, the district said. The board also encouraged residents with questions to email district staff for copies of the slides and supporting documents.

The board’s certification follows months of planning and prior actions related to bonds to address facility needs; staff said payments on some bonds will begin in fiscal year 2026‑27. The hearing also included numerous comments from employees and residents about staffing, student safety and long‑term facility investments. The board’s approval was the most recent procedural step required by Minnesota’s truth‑in‑taxation rules and the district’s levy will be incorporated into property tax statements mailed by county assessors.