Minneapolis School Board Pre-Certifies Maximum Property Tax Levy for 2027
The Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education took an initial step to secure future funding by voting to pre-certify its maximum allowable property tax levy for payable 2027, a move district officials say is standard practice.
The Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Board of Education recently moved to pre-certify the district’s maximum property tax levy for payable 2027. This preliminary action, taken during a recent board meeting, allows the district to maintain financial flexibility as it awaits final calculations from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), which determines the various components of the levy.
District officials emphasized that pre-certifying the maximum levy is a common and strategic practice for school districts across the state. This approach ensures that the district does not inadvertently limit its funding capacity, as state law permits a decrease in the levy amount later in the process, but not an increase beyond the initial certification.
The practice for school districts is to levy to the maximum. And what that means is what MDE, the Department of Education right now is calculating all the various levy components, and then once that is finished, we'll have a number that we'll bring back to the board and share obviously with the community, but the action being asked of you tonight is to levy to the maximum because again you can make a choice to decrease it. You cannot make a choice to go beyond that.
A key aspect of school district finance, as explained by district leadership, is the strict allocation of levy funds. Different components of the property tax levy are designated for specific purposes and are not interchangeable. For instance, funds generated through a technology levy cannot be repurposed for general operating expenses or capital projects.
Other Topics from This Document
Academic Performance and Teacher Staffing
Technology Use, Screen Time, and AI in Schools
District Updates, Recognitions, and Community Events
Minnesota Constitutional Amendment for Permanent School Fund
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