Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tax Levy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Little Falls board certifies 3.23% levy increase for taxes payable 2025
Summary
The Little Falls School Board voted to certify the district’s proposed property tax levy for taxes payable 2025, approving a 3.23% increase (about $182,000) and authorizing the clerk to transmit the levy to county auditors. The action followed a Truth and Taxation presentation on budget, enrollment and fund balance trends.
The Little Falls Public School District Board of Education on Dec. 16 certified its proposed property tax levy for taxes payable 2025 at the maximum recommended level, a 3.23% increase that district staff said equals approximately $182,000.
District staff presented the annual Truth and Taxation overview after 6 p.m., describing the 2024–25 budget mix, revenue drivers and risk factors. The presentation noted that about 82% of general fund revenue comes from state aid, roughly 11% from local property taxes and the remainder from federal aid and miscellaneous local revenue. Staff also highlighted declining enrollment over several years and an unassigned fund balance at roughly 4.2% of the budget, below the board’s stated 5–7% policy target.
Why it matters: certifying the levy is the board’s formal step required by state law to set the district’s tax request for collection by county auditors. The board’s decision determines how the district will fund general operations, debt service and community service programs in the coming fiscal year.
Board members discussed the levy mechanics and state-level drivers before voting. A resolution to certify the levy at the recommended maximum passed on roll call; board members Doug, Sharon, Julie and the board chair recorded “yes” votes. The board clerk was authorized to forward the certified levy to Morrison, Crow Wing and Todd counties for collection in 2025.
District staff told the board the proposed Levy shifts about 70% of the revenue to the general fund, 28% to debt service and 2% to community service, and that a one‑time abatement tied to Lincoln Elementary’s long‑term facility maintenance accounted for an increase of about $100,000 in that category.
The board’s certification completes the local Truth and Taxation requirement for this year; the levy certification packet and the department’s levy report will be filed with county officials according to statutory timelines. The district did not schedule additional public hearings as part of the certification vote.
