Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Finance Referendum topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Northland Pines board votes to ask voters for referendum to exceed revenue limit
Summary
The Northland Pines School Board approved a resolution Nov. 18 to place a referendum on the Feb. 18 ballot asking voters to allow the district to exceed the revenue limit for nonrecurring purposes; finance recommended $5.6 million. Officials cited large transportation costs and the district's geography as rationale.
The Northland Pines School Board voted Nov. 18 to place a referendum on the Feb. 18 ballot that would allow the district budget to exceed the state revenue limit for nonrecurring purposes.
Board members moved and seconded a resolution "authorizing the school district budget to exceed the revenue limit for nonrecurring purposes and providing for a referendum election." Mr. Foster, who the chair introduced to present referendum planning, said the finance committee recommended asking voters for $5.6 million to sustain academic programs, safety measures and staffing.
Why it matters: district leaders said the referendum responds to a long-term shortfall from a funding formula they described as flawed. Foster told the board the district covers 474 square miles and that transportation is a major expense: "We are 474 square miles. Our bussing costs are, 1,600,000," he said, arguing the larger geography and bus expenses justify asking taxpayers for additional support.
Board discussion reviewed recent referendum history and tax impacts. Foster and other board members explained the recommendation grew from multi‑month forecasting and finance committee work; they said the $5.6 million proposal would amount to a modest percentage increase across several years and used mill-rate examples to illustrate homeowner impacts. The presentation noted the district has used fund balance to limit the ask and that the finance team recommended keeping fund balance near 37–38 percent to avoid borrowing.
The motion carried after the discussion; the transcript records an affirmative voice vote but does not give a roll-call tally. District staff said they will hold multiple community information sessions in January and early February and will distribute flyers and updates on the district website.
Next steps: informational meetings will begin in January and run up to the Feb. 18 election; staff said they will meet with community groups on request to explain the referendum and answer questions.
