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The Albert Lea school board on Monday approved the certification of the proposed levy to be paid in 2025, which includes an overall levy decrease of $232,000.

After hearing numbers presented during the school board meeting, school board directors approved a $651,572 preliminary decrease — or 9.24% — in the general fund levy and a total levy decrease of $244,906 — or 2.4% — when including the general fund levy, debt levy and community service.

State law requires school boards to approve a preliminary levy by the end of September, before approving the final levy in December. Between now and December, that number can only decrease — it cannot increase.

Paul Durbahn, assistant director of finance and operations, said in the general fund, the operating referendum was adjusted for 2.43% inflation and included a referendum adjustment of a decrease of about $232,000.

The levy decrease also includes a projected decline in enrollment based on enrollment predictions, he said. Long-term facilities maintenance decreased by about $362,000, which was moved to the debt levy.   

When asked about the enrollment numbers, Durbahn said enrollment numbers typically decrease over the course of the year.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Community Education is increasing by about $5,500 under the proposal, and the debt service is increasing by about $401,000, which will include the bond payments for the school maintenance bonds approved earlier this year.

According to Durbahn, the tax on a $100,000 residential home would equal $336 in school district taxes, down $45 from 2024, if no other changes in value are made to a property.