Edina Public Schools Certifies Preliminary 2027 Property Tax with Modest Increase
The Edina School Board has certified an $81 million preliminary property tax levy for 2027, representing a 2.75% increase to fund a significant portion of the district's fiscal year 2028 operations.
The Edina Public Schools Board has formally certified its preliminary property tax levy for 2027, setting the maximum amount the district can request from local taxpayers at $81 million. This certification, a crucial step in the annual budgeting process, represents an increase of approximately $2.2 million, or 2.75%, over the taxes levied in 2026. This financial allocation is projected to cover about one-third of the district's operational expenses for the upcoming fiscal year 2028.
I am presenting to you the preliminary tax due in 2027, which will fund approximately one-third of our operations for the upcoming school year, fiscal year 2028.
The $81 million figure represents the highest amount the school district is permitted to levy, based on its existing debt obligations, voter-approved operating referendums, and all other tax components previously sanctioned by the Board. This ensures the district operates within its financial and legal parameters while addressing the educational needs of its students.
The currently proposed tax is $81 million, an increase of approximately $2.2 million or 2.75% over taxes due in 2026. This figure is the maximum allowed for the school district to levy according to its current debt obligations, operating referendum, and all other board-approved tax components.
Strategic Shift in Facility Maintenance Funding
A notable aspect of the 2027 preliminary levy is a strategic adjustment within the district's Long-Term Facility Maintenance Program (LTFMP). The district is transitioning a portion of its funding from a pay-as-you-go system towards a guaranteed debt service model. This shift will result in a slight increase in the General Fund while the Debt Service levy experiences a more significant rise.
Our long-term facility maintenance program is divided between pay-as-you-go authority and guaranteed debt service repayment. For taxes due in 2027, we are seeing a slight shift from the pay-as-you-go system to the guaranteed debt system, which is why the General Fund is slightly up while the Debt Service levy is higher.
When questioned by a Board Member about the increased focus on the debt side rather than the immediate tax aspect, Woodard clarified that this strategy has always been part of the district's long-term financial planning. The hybrid approach aims to balance immediate needs with sustainable fiscal management.
It was always planned to have a mix between pay-as-you-go and debt service. First, to ensure sufficient liquidity to make progress on those projects. And second, to reduce sudden spikes or increases noticed by resident taxpayers.
This preliminary certification sets the framework for the district's financial planning for the coming year, allowing for public input and potential adjustments before the final levy is adopted in December. The Edina Public Schools remains committed to transparent financial practices as it works to support its educational mission in Edina.
Our proprietary artificial intelligence agent analyzed publicly available documents including meeting agendas, minutes, and transcripts to write this story to help inform local residents. Feedback helps us improve, so please consider rating how we did with the thumbs up or down below.
Go deeper on this topic
Research related meeting documents and build a brief — without rewriting the story.
Full analysis
Votes (1)
Certification of Preliminary Property Tax for 2027
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [2026-09-22] · Seconded by آلان بيرغن هوفي [2026-09-22]
Mert Woodard presented the preliminary property tax for 2027, totaling $81 million, an increase of $2.2 million (2.75%). He detailed the allocation to the General Fund (up 2.12% to $57.8M), Debt Service Levy (up 17.19% to $22.2M), and Community Service Fund Levy (up 12.61% to $1.6M). A significant point was the strategic shift in the long-term facilities maintenance program from pay-as-you-go to guaranteed debt service, influencing the disproportionate increase in the Debt Service Levy. The increase is the maximum allowed under state law, considering existing debt and the operating referendum. The board also discussed the prior review by the Financial Committee and the rationale behind the long-term facilities funding strategy.
Notable Quotes (5)
أقدم لكم الضريبة التمهيدية المستحقة في عام 2027، والتي ستُموّل حوالي ثلث عملياتنا للعام الدراسي المقبل، السنة المالية 2028.
الضريبة المقترحة حاليًا هي 81 مليون دولار، أي بزيادة قدرها حوالي 2.2 مليون دولار أو 2.75%عن الضرائب المستحقة في عام 2026. هذا الرقم هو الحد الأقصى المسموح به للمنطقة التعليمية لفرضه وفقًا لالتزاماتها الحالية من الديون، واستفتاء التشغيل، وجميع مكونات الضريبة الأخرى التي وافق عليها مجلس الإدارة.
يُقسم برنامج صيانة المرافق طويل الأجل لدينا بين سلطة الدفع الفوري وسداد خدمة الدين المضمونة. بالنسبة للضرائب المستحقة في عام 2027، نشهد تحولاً طفيفاً من نظام الدفع الفوري إلى نظام الدين المضمون، ولهذا السبب يرتفع الصندوق العام بشكل طفيف بينما يرتفع رسم خدمة الدين بشكل أكبر.
لماذا أصبح الآن أكثر تركيزًا على جانب الدين بدلًا من جانب الضريبة؟
كان من المخطط دائمًا وجود مزيج بين الدفع الفوري وخدمة الدين. أولًا، لضمان وجود سيولة كافية لإحراز تقدم في تلك المشاريع. وثانيًا ، لتقليل الارتفاعات المفاجئة أو الزيادات التي يلاحظها دافعو الضرائب المقيمون.
Ordinances & Resolutions (4)
The preliminary property tax levy for the 2027 tax year, which the school board certified.
An operating referendum last voted on in 2017, linked to inflation, which impacts current tax calculations.
A long-term facilities maintenance program funded by a combination of immediate payments and guaranteed debt service, influencing the distribution of tax levies.
State law mandating the school district to certify the preliminary tax before the end of September.
Source document
Was this story helpful?
Other Topics from This Document
Award for Financial Reporting Excellence
Want to know when new stories arrive?
Enter your email to receive updates.
We will not use your email for any other purpose. You can unsubscribe at any time.