Columbia Heights board votes to put $550-per-pupil operating levy before voters

The Columbia Heights Public Schools board voted June 30 to place a $550-per-pupil operating levy question on the November ballot, a move district leaders said is intended to help offset recent reductions in state compensatory aid.

Director Henkkins told the board the recommended levy equates to roughly $170 a year for the owner of an average home assessed at $275,000 and would be subject to an annual inflation adjustment if approved. The board read and adopted a resolution calling for a special election on the question.

Board members framed the referendum as a reluctant but necessary response to a multi‑million-dollar drop in state support. "This does not replace compensatory aid entirely," a board member said, adding the board hopes the levy will help stabilize programs and staffing that otherwise face cuts. Another member said the district has discussed the proposal over multiple work sessions and through community outreach, and urged voters to review past meeting materials and the district’s analysis.

Board members also emphasized that even with the levy the district will need to continue advocacy at the state level; they described compensatory funding losses of about $3 million and said the levy is expected to replace about $2 million of that gap. The board voted by roll call to approve placing the question on the ballot.

The resolution and related materials will be available on the district’s public channels, and the administration said it will continue community engagement ahead of the November election. The board did not set a specific date for post-approval implementation steps beyond the standard election timeline.