The Barnum School Board voted Tuesday, Sept. 15 to set the district's 2021 proposed levy to the maximum amount allowed by the state.
The school district will see an 18.62% increase in payable taxes from 2020 compared to 2021. The increase amounts to approximately $147,164 year-over-year. In 2020, the levy was $790,508, and the maximum for 2021 is $937,672, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.
The 2021 levy will cover the district's general fund during the 2022-2023 school year.
The board voted to set the levy to the maximum amount because they can lower it at a later date, but they cannot go above the amount once it is set, said Superintendent Mike McNulty.
Last year the levy made up 10% of Barnum's revenue, said business manager Dawn Hultgren.
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The levy amount changes depending on a variety of components, including the amount of students at the school and property values. There are currently 703 students registered in Barnum for the 2020-2021 school year, said McNulty.
“We’re not doing anything different this year,” Hultgren said. “We are just doing what we have to do for the laws and regulations.”
There were no questions or comments from board members before they voted.
The district's Truth in Taxation hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15.
