Board certifies final levy for taxes payable 2026, citing bond-related debt service
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Summary
The board certified a final levy that increases taxes payable in 2026 by $5,667,951 (4.4%), with the presentation attributing most of the increase to debt service from a recent bond referendum; certification passed by voice vote.
The South Washington County Schools board certified its final property-tax levy for taxes payable in 2026 at its Dec. 11 meeting, approving a levy that the district said increases by $5,667,951, or 4.4% compared with 2025.
Chris Blackburn, director of business services, opened the required "truth in taxation" public hearing and detailed why the levy rose. Blackburn told the board that debt service tied to a recent voter-approved bond referendum was the largest single driver of the increase; other fund changes offset some general-fund decreases. He also walked the board through state funding context, noting that the state per-pupil formula has not kept pace with inflation and citing underfunding pressures for special education statewide.
The district presented illustrative homeowner examples prepared with municipal financial advisors to show how valuation changes affect an individual taxpayer's share of the levy. Blackburn noted that if property values change, taxpayers' shares of a fixed district levy shift even though the district's dollar collection remains the same. He reviewed available state property-tax relief programs, including homestead credits and senior deferral options.
After opening the public-comment portion of the hearing (no taxpayer comments were recorded in the transcript), the board moved to certify the final levy; the motion was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. The district will submit the certified levy to Washington County and the Minnesota Department of Education as required by statute.