In its work session Monday, Sept. 14, the Pequot Lakes School Board discussed its preliminary tax levy for the 2021 fiscal year, which they will vote to approve at its regular meeting next week.
Based on what Business Manager Heidi Hagen presented, the district intends to operate with a total tax levy of $6,300,389, which is an increase of $226,031 or 3.72%.
“That doesn’t mean that each taxpayer is going to see that 3.72% on their tax statements,” Hagen said. “That is just the overall increase for the school district revenue. Depending on all sorts of variables, a taxpayer will see an increase or a decrease.”
The largest changes include an increase to operating capital of $31,657 and an abatement increase of $39,007. There is also an increase to voter-approved debt service of $73,083.
The board will approve its preliminary levy at its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 21, then approve a final levy at its December meeting, giving the district administrators time to adjust based on enrollment projections and some other factors. At that December meeting, the board can choose to decrease the amount from the preliminary levy, but not increase it.
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The board also discussed the possibility of making alterations to the early childhood education parking area in the future. Administrators asked Widseth engineering firm to conduct a feasibility study to determine if the lot can add more parking spaces and if traffic can flow just one way to make the lot safer.
Widseth determined that making the parking spaces diagonal may alleviate some issues.
“This area will have to be addressed in the next five to 10 years for sure - probably more like five,” Superintendent Chris Lindholm said.
Dan Determan may be reached at 218-855-5879 or dan.determan@pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Dan.
