Budget

What does each district fund support?

General fund
State aids, local property tax levies, federal aids and local fees are the major sources of revenue for the general fund. This fund pays for teachers in regular education, vocational education and special education; support services such as secretaries, paraprofessionals and education assistants; district and school administration and their support staff; pupil support services such as health and guidance counselors; textbooks, library books, teaching supplies, maintenance workers, bus drivers, electricity, heating, technology supplies and fuel for buses.

Food Service Fund
This fund pays for the food and preparation of breakfast and lunch meals each day, five days a week for district students. State aids, federal aids and the sale of meals are the major sources of revenue for the Food Service Fund.

Community Service Fund
Community Education and related services are supported by the Community Service Fund, including those in the areas of recreation, civic activities, nonpublic student activities, adult or early childhood programs. Local Community Service fees from patrons, property tax levies, state aids and federal aids are the major sources of revenue for this fund.

Debt Service
A debt service fund is used to pay principal and interest on voter approved bonds. The bonds could be for technology purchases, remodeling or new building construction, or the refinancing of higher interest cost bonds. Building bonds could be considered similar to a homeowners mortgage, the debt service fund pays the principal and interest on bonds much like a mortgage.

District Revenue and Expenditure Budget

Audit Reports

2025 Audit Financial Report

2025 Management Report

Truth in Taxation

The district's annual Truth in Taxation meeting is held in early December.  During the meeting district leaders shared info about proposed levies and the impact on property taxes to be paid in the upcoming calendar year.
 

View the Truth in Taxation Presentation 2023 for taxes payable 2024

Understanding the difference between ‘voter-approved levies’ and ‘other levies’

When you look at your property tax statement, you will see two separate categories under school district taxes: "voter-approved levies" and "other local levies."

Voter-approved levies: Districts can ask for funding from local voters in two ways - operating levies and bond referendums. Levies provide money for operating expenses, such as teachers, supplies, and other expenses that directly impact the classroom. Bonds provide funds for special projects, such as the building of a school.

Other levies: The legislature created non-voter approved levies to help districts fund expenses that are designated for specific purposes, such as Q-Comp (teacher performance pay), health and safety improvements, building leases, Community Education, and other mandated programs.

State legislators have given communities local control by allowing voters to pass operating levies, also called referendums, to help fund school operations.

At one time in the state’s history, general education costs were paid for by the state and operating levies provided "extra" funds to schools to go above and beyond the standard requirements.

Those times have changed. Now, after several years of frozen state funding, tax shifts and rising inflation costs, operating levies are vital to providing standard educational programs.

Operating levies today are not extras. School districts rely on heavily the money from local taxpayers to help pay for necessary expenses that directly impact the classroom.

Over the years legislators have put a greater burden on local property taxes to fund education, so that now, almost 15 percent of our district’s revenue comes from local levies. 

Operating levies are essential to providing much needed revenue to pay for teachers and staff, purchase textbooks and supplies, buy computers and much, much more. Across the state, districts have operating levies ranging from $1 per student to over $2,000 per student.

Minnesota Department of Education's website:

Minnesota Report Card