The Albert Lea School Board unanimously approved a 3.6 percent preliminary levy increase Monday for 2017-18.

Specifics on how the levy will impact residents and business owners will be made available  at a Truth in Taxation meeting Dec. 5. The final levy will be set in December.

Included in the increase were increases in the building lease levy and an increase in the long-term facility maintenance formula, said Deputy Superintendent Lori Volz.

“$81,405 of this increase is from the lease of the special education cooperative building that Austin and Albert Lea share the lease cost; the rest of this increase is due to an increased square footage on the lease for Area Learning Center at Riverland Community College and an increase on the ice arena lease,” she said.  

The increase also covers a 2.3 percent increase for the long-term facility maintenance levy.

“This is a good levy with minimal tax increase for the citizens,” Volz said of the preliminary levy, noting her belief that the levy provides a good indication of the district’s overall financial condition.

“The district is in very solid financial condition,” she said.

The levy decreased 2.25 percent last year.