Osseo board certifies 4.5% levy after public hearing as residents debate taxes and teacher pay

The Independent School District 279 school board voted unanimously Dec. 16 to certify a payable-2026 property tax levy of $148,688,565.60, an increase of 4.5% over payable-2025.

At a statutorily required Truth in Taxation hearing, John Morstead, the district’s executive director of finance and operations, detailed the fiscal picture behind the levy and said the proposed payable-2026 levy reflects changes across levy categories and an expected enrollment increase. "Proposed payable '26 tax levy is an increase from 2025 of just over $6,400,000, or 4.5%," Morstead said during the presentation.

Why it matters: the levy funds part of the district’s general revenue and affects property owners’ tax statements. Morstead explained the district’s general fund composition — state aid as the largest revenue source and property taxes as a meaningful share — and walked the board through homeowner and commercial examples of estimated tax impacts.

Public reaction was mixed. Parent Eric Van Denavan told the board he objected to higher taxes without the ability to choose the school his children attend, saying he was not comfortable "paying on anything that doesn't allow the parents to have control over where their kids go to school or how they're taught." Teacher and longtime district employee Jenny Winters urged the board to use the district’s strong fund balance to support teacher pay, saying, "A pay raise is not merely a reward. It is an investment in stability. It is a retention tool that tells current educators their tireless efforts amid constant challenges are seen and valued." Noel Raff, a district resident and educator, also asked the board to prioritize negotiations with teachers and cited the district’s sustainable fund balance.

Board action and other votes: Chair Tanya Prince moved to certify the levy and Director Thomas Brooks seconded; the board voted 6–0. The meeting also produced several additional unanimous votes: approval of the consent agenda, second reading of posted policies, approval of gifts totaling $58,458.85, and a motion to recess for a closed session on labor negotiations.

What happens next: With the levy certified, county auditors will calculate tax rates and property owners will see final amounts on future statements. The board indicated the levy certification completes one required step in the property tax process and that any questions about individual tax relief options should be directed to tax professionals, as noted by staff during the hearing.

Votes at a glance: the levy certification (certified 6–0); consent agenda approved (6–0); policies second reading approved (6–0); gifts approved totaling $58,458.85 (6–0); board recessed for a closed session on teacher labor negotiations (6–0).

The board took the levy vote during its Dec. 16 regular meeting and recessed at 7:39 p.m. for the closed session required under Minnesota Statute 13D.03.