By Rich Larson, KYMN News
The Northfield School District is preparing to renew its operating levy, originally approved by voters in 2017, under a new provision in Minnesota law that allows school boards to renew a levy without a referendum. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann said the district will begin discussing the matter publicly in the coming weeks to ensure transparency and community engagement.
In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed a statute granting school boards a one-time authority to renew a voter-approved operating levy under the same conditions as originally approved. The law was enacted after years of advocacy from school leaders, citing data that nearly all levy renewals succeed at the ballot box but require significant time and resources to campaign. The statute aims to streamline the process while maintaining accountability through public hearings.
The current operating levy provides approximately $9 million annually for the district. It was set at the maximum per-student amount allowed at the time, includes an inflationary adjustment, and was approved for a 10-year term. The renewal would keep those same conditions intact.
Dr. Hillmann said the district is making a point to publicize this initiative because it is not something Minnesota school districts have been allowed to do before now, and it is important that the people of the district understand the “hows” and “whys” of the process.
“This is unusual because it’s a new thing. Now there’s several many school districts that have done this already. You can certainly check the packet, you know, for the statutory reference. And we just want people to know that we are looking at exercising this option for a variety of reasons, most importantly, the stability of funding for our district.”
The district’s window to act opened July 1, 2025, and closes June 15, 2027. Hillmann said the school board will hold a formal presentation in February, followed by a required public hearing, and expects a vote in early April. “It’s a responsible conversation for us,” he said, emphasizing that transparency, communication, and stewardship are core commitments of the district.
Hillmann stressed that all information will be shared widely through the district’s website and family communications. “We work hard to communicate in a variety of ways,” he said. “We want people to be aware and understand why this matters.”
If approved, the renewal will ensure continued financial stability for Northfield schools through 2038.
