On November 4, 2025, is the day the voters will be asked to vote on the new levy proposed by Owatonna Public Schools, primarily for Owatonna Senior High. A levy is one component of local tax that is used for school financing. The district wants to collect around $700 per person,based on how many students the district has. If that number goes up the district will still get $700 dollars extra per student. Even if that number goes down, it’s still the same cost per student.
Principle Kory Kath said “The levy is a proposition that goes to a vote of the community of anybody that lives within the school district to raise money per person to help with the operating expenses of the public schools. So that’s all the way from early childhood all the way through high school as well. And what they are asking for is an increase in the amount per person to be able to maintain programs that we currently offer.”
School leaders say they need this money because costs keep going up, but the money they get from the state has not been matching with the rising costs.. the last couple of years here in Owatonna, the district hasn’t been able to keep up with the finances, into their savings account. 2 million dollars was used last year and another 22 million this year. State funding hasn’t kept up with inflation, so if it had, the district would get an additional 7.3 million in just Owatonna each year, and they wouldn’t be asking for additional funding.
Superintendent Tamra Champa said “It was called an excess levy if they needed to do something kind of beyond what we typically do, and that’s not the case anymore today. So, one of my colleagues said it best that levy’s used to be the icing on the cake, and now they’re the cake. So it’s a continuation of what has been built and developed here in Owatonna. And so right now, we receive $556 per student, and when we look at the big nine, because just like in athletics, we compare to the big nine, we’ve second from the bottom. So it ranges from 2,184 to Austin is the lowest at 513 and we’re at 556, so pretty low in comparison right now.”
If voters say yes to the levy, the district will continue to offer the wide array of programs that we currently have. A lot of the CTE courses that are part of the career pathways which students have an option to do and the school offers concurrent enrollment courses. If the levy does not pass the wide array of different arts courses, athletics, and world language, different areas like that, would be at stake resulting in the school to scale back the number of electives and offerings. The district hopes that we can continue to offer these programs and courses but if it is necessary and the votes aren’t enough that where cuts would be made.
English teacher Mrs. Paulson said “In my opinion, the levy is important in maintaining a quality education for students in Owatonna. The community has always had a very strong backing for their teachers and school district, and I find that admirable. I think the levy would allow teachers manageable class sizes and offer the community the best quality of education.”
If the levy passes, homeowners will pay a little more in taxes. Tax paying citizens are able to see how much their household would be taxed by using the district tax calculator on their ISD 761 website., The tax cost would primarily be based on home value.If voters say no, the district will have to cut about $3.5 million from the budget next school year. If the levy isn’t successful then the Owatonna Public Schools will all get together and start talking about what that plan looks like and how they make those tough decisions. When the district looks at their budget, 81% of the budget is staff salaries and benefits. We know that any adjustments that the district makes is going to be harder on the staff, and in some cases,programs.
Local Parent Qamar Hersi said “My biggest worry about the levy not passing is how it could affect the programs and staff who make such a difference for our students every day.”
Right now, Owatonna’s schools get less local funding than many other nearby school districts. It’s based on community support. So for example, Northfield, which has the highest funding right now, has asked their local community for support several times, and they have said yes. So when the districts either don’t ask or their community says no, then that’s where you see lower numbers.
Ultimately, the levy failed by 61.85% with voters rejecting the operating levy increase of $700 per student on November 4, 2025.
