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Prior Lake‑Savage board narrows levy scenarios for further study, asks staff to model $32 and $46 options
Summary
The board asked administration to prepare detailed analyses for two operating-levy scenarios — roughly $32/month and $46/month per average household — and to examine a separate capital levy option; staff will return with modeled ballot language, tax impacts and timeline.
Board members provided directional guidance on May levy planning, asking administration to prepare two primary operating‑levy scenarios for the board’s May 18 meeting and to also explore a capital‑projects levy as a separate question.
Finance staff walked the board through a survey and modeling that showed sample outcomes: $15/month (≈$3.3M), $32/month (≈$7M), $46/month (≈$10M), and $67/month (≈$15M) in additional annual levy revenue, and described how those amounts would preserve the district’s fund balance across different years. Director Ryder summarized the scenarios: the $15 option restores about $3.3M; $32 produces roughly $7M; $46 about $10M; and $67 about $15M, assuming inflation and typical modeling assumptions.
Directors stressed two priorities: clarity of ballot language (to avoid confusion about step‑up questions) and honesty about trade‑offs (what cuts would remain at each level). Several board members recommended limiting the number of referendum scenarios presented to the public to two (staff suggested two is ideal; three maximum) so the administration can prepare clear costings and outreach materials in time for the finance committee and the May 18 board meeting.
The board also asked staff to run paired examples showing an operating question and a separate capital‑projects levy (a debt‑replacement-style capital question that would not add net tax in some scenarios because it replaces expiring debt service). Directors asked for additional research from Ehlers and to return with comparative data (historical pass rates, comparable district outcomes) to inform the board’s final choice of ballot amounts and language.
Next steps: finance staff will prepare two detailed levy scenarios ($32/month and $46/month), include tax-impact tables for representative homes, and present sample ballot language (fixed and step‑up options) at the May 18 meeting; administration will also circulate supplemental analysis to the finance and operations advisory committee on May 12.
