St. Paul voters on Tuesday went to the polls to decide on a school levy referendum that if approved would mean an increase in property taxes in order to provide additional funding to St. Paul Public Schools for the next ten years.

Early Tuesday night results were not in.

St. Paul voters voted yes or no on an increase to the district’s general revenue by $1,073 per pupil for 10 years, beginning with taxes payable in 2026. The 10-year tax is subject to increase with inflation.

The ballot language reads:

“The board of Independent School District No. 625 (Saint Paul), Minnesota has proposed to increase the School District’s general education revenue by $1,073 per pupil, subject to an annual increase at the rate of inflation. The proposed new referendum revenue authorization would be first levied in 2025 for taxes payable in 2026 and applicable for ten (10) years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.”

Voters approved a similar levy in 2018 which gave the district $1,180 per student, or $18.6 million per year plus inflation, in new revenue for 10 years.

The levy referendum on the ballot Tuesday would not revoke and replace the 2018 approved levy, which currently provides $1,167 per student, but will add onto it, according to Tom Sager, the district’s executive chief of financial services. Under state law, the school board could then choose to approve a one-time renewal of the 2018 levy as it’s set to expire without needing to bring it ahead of voters.

While the average St. Paul homeowners with a median-value home would see a $309 per year, or $26 per month, increase in their property taxes if the levy is approved, property owners won’t know the total changes to their property taxes for next year until city, county and school district levies are finalized in December.

How much to expect with city, county and school levies?

If the proposed city, county and school district levies are approved, including the special school district referendum, homeowners in St. Anthony Park, Battle Creek, Sunray, Highwood and downtown St. Paul would see their property taxes go up the least of any neighborhoods in the city, percentage-wise, while still seeing hikes of several hundred dollars.

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Homeowners in the North End, Payne-Phalen, Thomas-Dale/Frogtown and the West Side neighborhoods would see their property taxes go up the most percentage-wise.

Without additional funding from the proposed levy, district officials say they expect to make at least $37 million budget cuts for the 2026-27 school year. If approved by voters, the increase will generate approximately $37.2 million per year in additional revenue.

St. Paul schools officials worked hard to get the word out on the levy referendum, using tax dollars to do so. As of Oct. 29, the district has spent $59,977 on materials to inform the public on the referendum. Including the statutorily-required mailed notice to residents about the referendum, the district has spent $108,257.

Hormel Foods is cutting approximately 250 office roles from its workforce through early retirements and layoffs as part of a restructuring to “thoughtfully align resources.”

The giant Austin, Minn.-based food brand announced the cuts to its corporate and sales areas on Tuesday. The cuts will not impact workers in the food processing plants, according to Hormel.

The restructuring announcement did not state whether the 250 roles are being cut from its corporate offices in Austin or from other facilities in the company.

Of the approximately 3,300 Hormel employees based in Austin, 1,400 employees work in the corporate offices, according to Hormel’s website. Hormel also employs 1,900 people at its Austin processing plant.

Hormel said most of the changes are expected to be effective by the end of 2025. The company said that estimated restructuring charges of $20 million to $25 million are expected to be incurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 and the first quarter of fiscal year 2026.

That estimated $20 million to $25 million includes one-time pension benefits, cash severance payments, stock compensation expenses and employee benefit costs.

“Our focus is on providing support and resources to those impacted as they transition from the company,” said Interim CEO Jeff Ettinger. “Each person who is leaving has contributed to our organization, our culture and our success. We’re grateful for everything they’ve done.”

The maker of SPAM described the restructuring as part of the “company’s ongoing focus on balancing cost discipline with reinvestment in areas critical to its future.”

Hormel Foods President John Ghingo addressed that rebalancing.

“We’re directing resources toward technology, innovation, food safety and quality, and the capabilities — including people capabilities — that will shape our future. We’re confident that our ongoing investments will strengthen our brands, improve efficiency and ensure Hormel Foods stays competitive and responsive to the needs of our consumers and customers,” he stated in the announcement.

By AAMER MADHANI

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he has decided to nominate Jared Isaacman to serve as his NASA administrator, months after withdrawing the tech billionaire’s nomination because of concerns about his political leanings.

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Trump announced in late May that he had decided to withdraw Isaacman after a “thorough review” of his “prior associations.” Weeks after the withdrawal, Trump went further in expressing his concerns about Isaacman’s Republican credentials.

At the time, Trump acknowledged that he thought Isaacman “was very good,” but had become “surprised to learn” that Isaacman was a “ blue blooded Democrat, who had never contributed to a Republican before.”

Isaacman had the endorsement of Trump’s former DOGE adviser and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. The president and Musk had a very public falling out earlier this year but are now on better terms.

Last week, Trump told reporters he and Musk have spoken “on and off” since sitting together at conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s funeral last month in Arizona and that their relationship is “good.”

Trump made no mention of his previous decision to nominate and then withdraw Isaacman in his Tuesday evening announcement of the re-nomination on his Truth Social platform. And the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s decision to reverse course.

“This evening, I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA,” Trump posted. “Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been serving as interim NASA administrator. The president on Tuesday praised Duffy for doing an “incredible job.”

Isaacman, CEO and founder of credit card-processing company Shift4, has been a close collaborator with Musk ever since buying his first chartered flight with SpaceX.

He also bought a series of spaceflights from SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk. SpaceX has extensive contracts with NASA.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved Isaacman’s nomination in late April and a vote by the full Senate had been expected when Trump announced he was yanking the nomination.

In his own social media post Tuesday, Isaacman thanked Trump for the nomination and the “space-loving community.” He made no mention of the earlier turmoil.

Check here for live election results.

MINNESOTA GENERAL ELECTION LIVE RESULTS

 

 

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