The Windom Area School Board was presented with final levy numbers on Monday night, which was a 7.75% increase over last year.
The announcement was made prior to the regular board meeting during the Truth in Taxation meeting.
The increase is due to a property market value increase of 36.6% and an increase in enrollment over the previous year, neither of which is determined by the district.
“Unfortunately, when the property values increase as we’ve experienced, the equalization formula shifts more funds from state aid to local levy because the state views the district as wealthier than the prior year,” said Superintendent Jamie Frank.
The increase was due to higher property values within the district.
Business Manager Peggy Pfeffer also provided the numbers from the last five years of the school board’s levy decisions are as follows:
• 2024 — 9% increase
• 2023 — .3% decrease
• 2022 — 1.28% increase
• 2021 — 1.41% decrease
• 2020 — 4.03% increase
Due to the higher-than-normal levy increase, the district explored ways to under levy (collect fewer taxes than approved) to reduce the tax impact for the citizens.
“The district is in a position financially to under levy to decrease the burden on the taxpayers,” Frank said. “By under levying in four categories, the district was able to decrease the levy from a 9.05% increase to 7.75% increase while still maintaining 100% of state aid.”
Rather than levying $4,707,007 at the maximum, the district will levy $4,651,140, which is a difference of $55,867.
