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Hastings board adopts 2026–27 budget and outlines referendum renewal to preserve $4.2M
Summary
The ISD 200 board adopted the 2026–27 budget after a detailed presentation; staff recommended using Minnesota’s board‑renewal statute to preserve roughly $4.2 million annually in operating referendum revenue and scheduled public testimony and a July vote on renewal.
The ISD 200 school board unanimously adopted the district’s 2026–27 budget after a presentation from Director of Finance and Operations Jen Subert.
Subert said the district projects 4,218 adjusted pupil units for 2026–27 (100 fewer than 2025–26), and presented revenue and expenditure changes: a net revenue increase of about $232,000 and projected expenditure increases (including salary and benefits) that raised total expenditures by about $2.185 million in the adopted budget. She said the district will present a revised budget in December once actual enrollment, settled contracts and updated state figures are available.
"The adopted budget is our best estimate of revenues and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year based on the information that we have available," Subert said, summarizing assumptions on enrollment, staffing and state funding. (Jen Subert, Director of Finance and Operations)
Subert also explained the district’s option to renew the operating referendum approved by voters in November 2017. Under Minnesota Statute 126C.17 subdivision 9B, a board may renew an existing operating levy one time under the original terms; renewal preserves approximately $4.2 million in annual operating revenue without increasing taxes beyond amounts voters previously approved. Subert said the board’s renewal window had opened and that a July 15 public testimony session would precede a vote to renew by board resolution.
"It would preserve approximately $4,200,000 in annual operating revenue," Subert said, noting the renewal is not an increase and aims to provide stability for district operations. (Jen Subert, Director of Finance and Operations)
Board members asked about restricted versus unassigned accounts, preparation for a potential Blue Ribbon Commission recommendation on special education funding, and a conservative budgeting approach that includes reserving $1.3 million to cover potential short‑term state funding changes.
The board moved to adopt the budget; the motion carried unanimously.
The vote: Adopted budget; unanimous voice vote.
Next steps: Staff will present a revised budget in December with updated enrollment and contract settlements and will hold public testimony and a board vote on the referendum renewal on the timeline described.
