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Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board members during their Sept. 22 meeting approved the maximum preliminary 2026 property tax levy allowed based on the formula used by the Minnesota Department of Education to determine how much school districts can levy.
The School Board has historically approved the maximum preliminary levy amount allowed at its September meeting without specifying a dollar amount because state data that is used in the formula to determine the actual dollar amount is not yet complete and a preliminary levy must be approved by Sept. 30. The final levy, which is approved in December, can be lower, but not higher than the preliminary amount. By approving the maximum levy, without specifying a dollar amount, the school district is able to adopt the final updated maximum levy amount in December with a specific dollar amount, even if that amount is higher than the preliminary maximum amount.
“We certify the max right now because there will probably still be changes and as long as you certify the max, then that’s OK if it goes up,” said PAS Business Manager Jacque Kennedy.
As of the Sept. 22 meeting, the maximum levy amount was $4,225,563.45, which would be a 1.68 percent decrease from the 2025 levy. That includes a debt service levy of $2,177,892.07, a general levy of $1,932,727.07 and a community education levy of $114,944.31.
The School Board also scheduled the annual truth in taxation meeting for Monday, Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m., which is during the regular December meeting. State statute requires that such meetings be held and that the budget and levy be discussed and public input be allowed prior to the final levy being approved.
Unlike cities or counties, school districts begin their fiscal year on July 1, so the School Board typically adopts a budget in June. At that time, the School Board approved a fiscal year 2026 general fund budget with expenditures projected to be $17,995,571 and revenue projected to be $16,949,435, leaving a projected deficit of $1,046,136.
In other business, PAS Superintendent Klint Willert noted that September is School Board Recognition Month and thanked the School Board members for their service. The PAS School Board includes Katie Wiese, Tami Taubert, Daphne Likness, Chrissy DeBates, Mark Hiniker, Brad Carson and Tyler Fruechte.