--- ## title: Capital Project Levy --- ## SCHOOL DISTRICT 197 ## Capital Project Levy ## Approving the Final Ballot Resolution With a positive Review and Comment response received from the Minnesota Department of Education, the Board is asked tonight to approve the final ballot resolution placing the capital project levy before voters on November 3, 2026. ## AUGUST 10, 2026 BOARD MEETING ## WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT ## The Last Required Step Is Done MDE returned a positive Review and Comment. Tonight is the final step before this goes to voters. ## Board ## Finalizes ## MDE ## Review ## District ## Submits ## Board ## Authorizes ## BALLOT 1 OF 4 ## The Proposed Authorization “The school board of Independent School District No. 197 (West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan) has proposed a capital project levy authorization of 4.027% times the net tax capacity of the school district.” Net tax capacity is the taxable value of property in the district after state classification rates are applied. The rate is fixed by this authorization. This is the first paragraph of the explanatory statement printed on the ballot. ## BALLOT 2 OF 4 ## How the Revenue May Be Used “The additional revenue from the proposed authorization will be used to pay for safety and security improvement; textbooks and teaching materials; school transportation vehicles; school facility maintenance; cybersecurity; utility service costs; and other operating capital purposes permitted by law.” “The projects to be funded have received a positive Review and Comment from the ## Commissioner of Education.” This is the second paragraph of the explanatory statement printed on the ballot. ## BALLOT 3 OF 4 ## Amount and Term “The proposed capital project levy authorization will raise approximately $4,600,000 for taxes payable in 2027, the first year it is to be levied, and would be authorized for ten years.” “The estimated total cost of the projects to be funded over that time period is approximately $46,000,000. The projects to be funded have received a positive Review and Comment from the Commissioner of Education.”. This is the third paragraph of the explanatory statement printed on the ballot. ## BALLOT 4 OF 4 ## The Question Voters Answer “Shall the capital project levy authorization proposed by the school board by ## Independent School District No. 197 be approved?” Directly beneath the question, every ballot carries the notice required by state law: BY ## VOTING “YES” ON THIS BALLOT LANGUAGE 4 OF 4, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A ## PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. Requested action: approve the ballot resolution as presented. ## TAXPAYER IMPACT ## What It Costs an Average Home The average home value in School District 197 is $400,000. Impact varies with your home's estimated market value. $14 ## Per Month On a $400,000 home. $168 ## Per Year The full-year cost on that same home. Renters pay no direct property tax impact. The proposed amount was reduced from $5 million to $4.6 million after community feedback…