Kasson-Mantorville hosts levy informational session

Kasson-Mantorville Superintendent Beth Giese and Business Manager Bob Hasz hosted an informational meeting Sept. 21 at Kasson-Mantorville High School about a proposed operating levy referendum that would provide the district with an additional $500 per pupil for day-to-day operations. Voters will decide the proposal Nov. 3.
Giese said the district is seeking additional funding because of rising costs, unfunded state and federal mandates and changes in enrollment.
The district’s primary source of revenue is state funding based on enrollment. Giese said that funding has not kept pace with inflation.
New state and federal mandates, including Minnesota’s READ Act, Paid Family and Medical Leave and Earned Sick and Safe Time, have increased expenses without providing corresponding additional funding, Giese said.
Kasson-Mantorville receives $7,481 per student through the state funding formula. Giese said that amount would be $8,901 per student in 2026 if the allowance had increased with inflation each year since 2003, a difference of about 19%.
Enrollment trends are also affecting the district’s finances. Giese said incoming kindergarten classes have been smaller than graduating classes. This year’s kindergarten class has 143 students, compared with 172 students in the current graduating class.
The district can adjust staffing and reduce class sections as enrollment declines, Giese said, but some services must continue regardless of student numbers. Those include transportation, custodial services, technology and educational specialists.
“When you go down in enrollment, you don’t always get to reduce [services],” Giese said.
Hasz said the enrollment and funding trend could leave the district facing a budget shortfall of $500,000 to $600,000 over the next four to five years. He said the gap could grow to about $1 million over the next 10 years.
Giese said the district has not developed specific plans for reductions if the levy fails, but residents should expect changes that could include larger class sizes, modifications to transportation services and the elimination of some teaching positions and course offerings.
During the meeting, an Owatonna teacher attending as a guest said some of his classes have as many as 40 students. A Kasson-Mantorville teacher also described increasing class sizes over the years.
“Hearing those numbers just makes me scared,” Giese said.
Under the district’s estimate, a property with a median estimated market value of $350,000 would see an annual property tax increase of about $269 if the levy is approved.