Osseo school board certifies $142.29 million levy after Truth-in-Taxation hearing

The Osseo Area Schools board voted unanimously on Dec. 17 to certify the district's payable-2025 tax levy at $142,285,708.71. John Morstead, the district's executive director of finance and operations, delivered the Truth-in-Taxation presentation that preceded the vote and described the levy as a modest increase over 2024 "of $715,976, or 0.51%."

Morstead told the board the presentation fulfilled state requirements and explained how the levy interacts with state funding formulas and local property valuations. He said Minnesota's general-education formula has not kept pace with inflation since 2003 and pointed to special-education underfunding as a continuing pressure on district budgets. "For fiscal year 23–24, an increase of 4% was provided at the legislature; for fiscal 24–25 we received about 2% — but the formula still lags inflation," Morstead said, describing per-pupil funding gaps that add up to tens of millions for the district.

Board members moved promptly from the presentation to action. Director Tanya Prince made the motion to certify the levy and Director Sarah Mitchell seconded. After brief procedural remarks, the vote was recorded as 6–0 in favor. Board materials that accompanied the hearing break the levy into categories, noting increases in the voter-approved operating levy and the capital/technology levy driven in part by higher net tax capacity in the district.

The board also noted options for taxpayer relief discussed during the presentation — the homestead credit refund, special property tax refund and a senior-citizen deferral program — and said residents with questions should consult their tax professionals or county auditor information on their property statements. The certification is an administrative step that allows the district to move forward with its budget timeline for the 2025–26 school year.