The district is facing a $687,177 budget deficit ahead of the 2025-26 school year that will deeply impact student learning and support services. The proposed operating levy increase of $750 per pupil will generate an estimated $652,651 annually – the minimum amount needed to stabilize the district’s budget.  

Barnesville Public School would face the largest budget cut in years, requiring an estimated $687,177 reduction in March 2025 to balance the 2025-2026 budget. This would be significant and challenging for the district, especially after reducing spending in three of the last four years.

The impact of these cuts would significantly impact both elementary and high school levels, affecting all teachers, staff, and students. This would include:

• Eliminating teacher and staff positions

• Increasing class sizes

• Reducing course offerings and programming at all grade levels

• Reducing academic support and mental health services

• Shrinking career and technical education programs

• Reducing coaches/advisors and eliminating extracurricular

If Question 1 passes but Question 2 fails, Barnesville Public School will still need to reduce the budget an estimated $252,076 in March 2025 to balance the 2025-2026 budget. While not as severe as if Question 1 fails, these cuts will still pose a challenge for the district, particularly after reducing spending in three of the last four years.

The district would lack the funds needed to maintain 1:1 learning devices for all students.  Additionally, the already outdated curriculum across all grade levels and subjects would face further delays or may not be updated at all.

The proposed measures include two key levies:

Operating Levy: This would increase the school district’s operating levy by $750 per pupil, generating an estimated $652,651 annually for the next 5 years.

Capital Projects Levy: This would generate $300,000 annually for the next 10 years.

If all three questions on the ballot are approved, the estimated property tax increase for a home valued at $265,000 would be approximately $32 per month, starting in 2025. To find out how these changes might affect your specific property, you can use our tax calculator.

Agricultural land, excluding the homestead (house, garage, and one acre) and seasonal recreational properties, is exempt from the operating levy referendum (Questions 1 and 2).

Agricultural land is taxed under the capital projects levy (Question 3).

The state of Minnesota provides the majority of funding for local schools, but for most districts in the state, this level of support isn’t enough to cover the costs of student services and educational programming. This is why 70% of school districts across the state rely on funding from voter-approved local operating levies to bridge the gap.

Local schools are an important community asset that help attract new families and businesses to our community while also supporting local employers in need of skilled workers. Across Minnesota, strong schools mean stronger communities and local economies.