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Board holds public hearing and approves property‑tax abatement for parking‑lot projects

WESTONKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT Board of Education · December 10, 2025

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Summary

The board heard from its financial advisor and then approved a resolution granting property‑tax abatement for parking‑lot improvements and a related intent to issue tax‑payment bonds; the board authorized a maximum abatement amount of $2.6 million and expects bond sale actions in January.

The Westonka Public School District board held a public hearing on proposed property‑tax abatement tied to parking‑lot construction and, later in the meeting, approved a resolution to grant the abatement and move forward toward bond issuance.

Matthew (Matt) Hammer, the district’s financial advisor with Ehlers, led the public hearing and described the statutory framework and department limits for school‑district abatements. "What we're looking at is a maximum abatement amount authorized by the board of 2,600,000.0," Hammer said, and he advised the board that the district does not expect to use the full par amount because reoffering premiums are likely.

Hammer said the Department of Education limits school‑district tax abatements to parking lots and related improvements and outlined a tentative timeline: a bond sale scheduled for the morning of Jan. 5, board authorization at the January meeting and a closing currently scheduled for Jan. 29. Board members asked clarifying questions about statutory limits and scope; Hammer confirmed the Department of Education’s restriction to parking‑related improvements for school districts.

After the hearing the board approved a resolution stating its intention to issue general obligation building facilities maintenance, tax abatement and refunding bonds series 2026A and passed a separate resolution granting the property‑tax abatement for parking lots by voice votes. The board instructed staff to return with final bond‑sale results and related documents for the January meetings.