Voters in the Mahtomedi school district will be asked to approve two referendum questions during a special election in November.
In April, the school board set a referendum for a series of facilities improvements. Now it has voted to approve another referendum question that will ask taxpayers to increase the school district’s existing operating levy of $1,570 per student to a larger levy of $2,145 per student.
The additional $575 per pupil, which would start in the 2026-27 school year, will help maintain class sizes, sustain academic programming and strengthen financial stability, said Superintendent Barbara Duffrin.
“Like most school districts in Minnesota, we are facing challenging budget times due to multiple budget pressures and inflation,” Duffrin said.
Among the increases in costs the district is facing: health insurance premiums for staff have increased by more than 11 percent and bus transportation costs have increased by 25 percent.
Other factors: State funding has not addressed increased inflationary costs and partially funded legislative mandates put a demand on already limited funds, district officials said.
Staffing, which is about 75 percent of the district’s budget, is another budget pressure. “With the current workforce shortage, we need to remain competitive in retention and hiring,” Duffrin said.
Substitute teacher costs also have increased in both inflation and usage, she said. Finally, enrollment in the district has been generally flat, and birth rates in Washington County have decreased, she said.
Facilities improvements
The board in April approved placing a $28 million referendum question on the Nov. 4 ballot. The money would be used to fund facilities improvements that district officials say will benefit safety and security, academics, performing arts and athletics.
Mahtomedi Middle School (Courtesy of Mahtomedi Public Schools)
Among the proposed improvements are a new front entrance at Mahtomedi Middle School and other safety and security improvements.
Mahtomedi High School would get a “hallway circulation” remodel, choir and band classroom improvements, new mechanicals, a weight room addition and safety and security improvements. Athletic Field 1 would get new turf and lights.
The referendum also would pay for safety and security improvements to Wildwood and O.H. Anderson elementary schools and disability access and seating improvements at the Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, among other projects.
“Our priority is to ensure that the excellent opportunities in academics, activities, arts and athletics continue,” School Board Chairwoman Stacey Stout said Wednesday. “We want our students to achieve strong learning outcomes and are well-prepared for success after graduation.”
The tax impact will be $200 a year, or $16.66 per month, for Question 1 (operating revenue) and $182 a year, or $15.16 per month, for Question 2 (facility improvements), based on a house valued at $500,000, the average price of a home in the district, according to district estimates. If both measures are approved, property taxes on a $500,000 house would rise about $382 a year.
The district, which has about 3,200 students, serves Willernie, Mahtomedi, Dellwood, Pine Springs and portions of Hugo, Lake Elmo, Grant, Oakdale and White Bear Lake.
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Mahtomedi school referendum information sessions
Mahtomedi Public Schools officials plan to host six community referendum learning sessions this summer and fall for district residents to learn more about the two-question referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot.
The sessions will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Mahtomedi High School Media Center on July 16, Aug. 6, Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct. 7 and Oct. 29.
For more information, go to www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us/elections.
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