Crosby‑Ironton School Board certifies $5.72 million final levy after operating referendum

The Crosby‑Ironton School Board on Dec. 15 voted to certify a final levy of $5,722,174.78 for 2025 payable 2026, following a detailed presentation of the levy certification schedule and tax-notice calculations.

At the levy hearing staff walked the board through the county notice of proposed taxes, an illustrative residential example, and how classification, homestead exclusions and referendum dollars change taxable values. “We’re going to walk quickly through the booklet this evening,” the presenter said as he began the overview. He explained that the county auditor prepares the mailed notices and that the board must certify the final levy to the county auditor within the statutory timeline.

The staff presentation showed how an example property’s estimated market value rose from $129,300 to $150,900, and how homestead exclusions reduced the taxable market value for that parcel. The district’s proposed levy before the operating referendum was reported at roughly $4.211 million; with the operating referendum included the district presented a final levy of $5,722,174.78, an increase of about $1.54 million (roughly 36.8%) compared with the prior levy. Staff said a taconite production‑tax adjustment reduces the community service levy by about $132,000, which moderates some local impact.

Officials provided homeowners’ examples to show likely changes in tax bills. Using updated county values, staff said a $300,000 house would see an estimated increase of about $217 per year under the refined calculation, down modestly from an earlier estimate.

Officials also noted an administrative correction: the Minnesota Department of Revenue initially certified a taconite adjustment amount that staff expect will be corrected next year, producing a one‑year anomaly that will be reconciled in subsequent tax calculations.

After board members asked clarifying questions about whether state aid would change (staff said state aid remains the same in dollars but will be a smaller share of total revenue after the referendum) and about how levy dollars are spread across different tax bases, the board moved and approved certification of the final levy. The certification will be sent to the county auditor within the statutory window.

The board’s action to certify the levy is a formal administrative step required to have the county include the district levy on property tax statements next spring; the district also noted that the operating referendum proceeds were factored into the referendum planning earlier in the year.