Numbers played a dominant role at the last meeting of the Northfield School Board.
Board members heard a financial report from Val Mertesdorf, director of finance, regarding the capital operating budget and the 10-year long term facilities maintenance budget.
No action was taken on the proposed budgets, as the meeting was strictly discussion-based.
After some questions and answers with staff, Board Chair Claudia Gonzalez-George shifted the board’s attention to the discussion regarding the potential solutions for addressing the NHS facility problems.
Jeff Seeley, a public financial advisor with Ehlers, presented preliminary tax impact data for six potential referendum questions. His calculations were estimated using the average cost of a residential home in Northfield valued at $350,000.
“These tax impact tables are examples and for discussion only, helping the board discern what, if anything, to place on the November 2024 ballot,” said Matt Hillmann, Northfield School District superintendent.
Seeley said, according to his projections, if voters support the least expensive $60 million option that would address some renovations and repairs to the aging school, individual taxpayers could expect to pay about $202 a year or around $17 per month.
If voters decide they support the middle option of a $117 million reimagined school facility, taxpayers could expect to pay about $514 more a year, and $45 more a month.
On the other end of the spectrum of options, if voters decide they want to build a brand new high school at a cost of $176 million, they should expect to pay about $825 more a year and around $60 more a month.
Those estimates are based on a 20-year tax levy, not a 25-year or a 30-year. Also, those figures were arrived at using a 4.75% interest rate.
Justin Raabolle, director of buildings and grounds, said that planning ahead for facility and component repairs was often tricky because his staff has to estimate what components were nearing the end of their usable life.
Board member Noel Stratmoen asked what exactly would constitute a catastrophic facility failure. Raabolle replied that a large scale failure would be if the high school HVAC system went out.
“Fixing the chiller last year on the first day of school when it was 95 degrees cost $10,000 in parts,” he said. “It would cost $600,000 to replace.”
Vice Chair Corey Butler asked Mertesdorf what was most difficult about looking forward 10 years, as she created these projections. Mertesdorf explained that it was much easier to project a budget four to five years out than eight to nine years out.
“We are so fortunate to live in a community that supports educational funding wholeheartedly,” she said.
In a letter sent to district families last week, Hillmann outlined the schedule for upcoming events: On Feb. 26, the board will receive the results from the 400 voter randomized, stratified sample survey conducted by Morris Leatherman during its regular meeting.
On March 5, the board will hold a work session at 4 p.m. at the district office to reflect on all of the information they have received about the high school facility. They will also discuss what, if anything, should be placed on the November 2024 ballot to address the high school facility problems. No decision will be made at this meeting.
On March 11, the board is scheduled to decide at its regular meeting what, if anything, should be placed on the November 2024 ballot to address the high school facility problems.
Most Popular
Comments / 0