by April Scheinoha
Editor
The Thief River Falls School Board has certified the 2025 payable 2026 levy at the maximum amount of $8,730,176.08. That amount is a decrease of 3.18% over last year’s levy. School board members certified the levy at their meeting Monday, Dec. 8.
Setting the levy at the maximum amount will enable the district to make adjustments, if needed, due to enrollment, said Superintendent Dr. Chris Mills.
The levy includes a General Fund levy of $4,112,904.43; a Community Services levy of $119,414.98; and a Debt Services levy of $4,497,856.67.
During the Truth in Taxation hearing, Mills noted the levy accounts for 11% of the district’s 2025-26 General Fund revenue budget. He said he had heard from a couple of businesspeople who were happy that the district’s levy had decreased a little from last year.
Board Treasurer John Syvertson said a few people had thanked the board for not increasing school district taxes.
The levy decrease wasn’t unexpected. Mills reminded board members that the district told voters, during the referendum process, that they would soon see a decrease due to declining enrollment. He anticipated another levy decrease in the future as some of the district bonds are paid off.
In 2026, the district is considering improvements to the Franklin Middle School tennis courts and potentially adding another parking lot adjacent to the courts. If that project moves forward, Mills anticipated that the district would seek an abatement bond.
Mills provided an enrollment update. As of Dec. 1, the district had 1,656 students. He noted that was a slight decrease from the beginning of the year. Mills estimated 16 students, who migrate between Thief River Falls and other areas, had already moved south. He said he believed that number was higher this year due to the current political climate.
The next School Board meeting is scheduled Monday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. at the District Service Center.