By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
This week, during the news we will focus on a different topic each day related to the budget reductions in the Northfield Public Schools focusing on the different proposals and answering some of the most asked questions.
Previous stories in the series:
- Listen To More: An In-Depth Look At the Northfield Public Schools Budget Reductions
- 3/10/2025: Northfield Public Schools Publishes Budget Reduction Proposals; Public Forum Rescheduled to April 3rd
- Monday: With the Northfield Schools Budget Cuts, Why is the District Continuing High School Construction Project?
Today, we answer the question about the school district’s role and stack in the new ice arena project. Of course, the school district is one of the largest users of the arena, with Raider hockey teams practicing and playing home games there. Currently, the school district has agreed with the City of Northfield to rent the new ice arena for 20 years at $250,000 a year. However, is the school’s stake in the project possibly at jeopardy with the budget cuts?
The school district leadership says no. Director of Finance Val Mertesdorf stated that any leases the district has comes from a separate restricted fund instead of the general fund called the lease levy:
“So we use our lease levy, which is one of the state-mandated allowable uses of levy dollars to support any leases we have. We use that for our ice time, the Dundas Dome: we have some hours there for spring sports. The gymnastics club, those sorts of things we can lease levy for. And so that’s a restricted separate pot of money. Another bucket, if you will, that we have access and that Is not part of this operational deficit.” – Val Mertesdorf, Northfield Schools Director of Finance, KYMN News Special
Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann noted that this is not the typical lease since this restricted fund requires the School Board to authorize the funds each year. Instead, the district has made a commitment to lease the building for 20 years and Hillmann stated simply that:
“We have made a commitment. To it’s not like there are other ice arenas that could support us.” – Dr. Matt Hillmann, Superintendent of Schools, KYMN News Special
In tomorrow’s newscast, we will review what is being proposed in the Elementary Level Package of budget reductions.
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Do you have a news tip or press release? Send it to us email: Logan@kymnradio.net