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Pipestone board votes 6–1 to set $1,500 per-pupil operating referendum with inflation factor
Summary
After a lengthy budget and community-impact discussion, the board voted by roll call to place a $1,500-per-pupil operating referendum (with an inflation adjustment) on the ballot; presenters said the options would raise roughly $1.1M–$1.4M depending on the ask.
The Pipestone Area School District board voted, by roll call, to set an operating-referendum amount of $1,500 per pupil with an inflation (CPI) adjustment. The motion passed after an extended discussion about fund-balance trajectory, tax impact on homeowners and the timing for placing a question on the November ballot. The chair announced the roll call results: "Daphne: Aye; Feeney: Aye; Mark: No; Danny: Aye; [Chair]: Aye; Christie: Aye; Britt: Aye," producing a 6–1 result in favor of the $1,500 figure.
Steve, the PTMA presenter, had earlier reviewed the district’s current operating authority and impacts of three scenarios. "Your current operating levy authority is at $474.26 per pupil," he said, and explained that replacing that amount with a higher referendum could generate roughly $1.1 million to $1.4 million annually depending on the chosen level. He also outlined schedule constraints and noted that any successful November question would not provide district budget revenue until fiscal year 2028. The board instructed staff to prepare final resolution text reflecting the $1,500 amount and the inflationary language for signatures and legal filing.
