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The plans that Chisago Lakes School Board has for using several million in bond proceeds for a series of projects got the thumbs up from the state in their required “review and comment.”

 The school board accepted the go-ahead from the state Department of Education at last week’s meeting.  This is part of the process to use tax abatement bonding.  The public hearing happened August 2.

There are approximately $5 million in roofing and other tasks that were accomplished this summer using General Obligation Bonds and going into 2027 Chisago Lakes will complete $8 million in parking lot/stormwater improvements with tax abatement bonding.  

The lots are at Taylors Falls, Primary School, Middle and High schools and bus garage.

It is projected to take 14 years to pay off the bonded debt at annual payments ranging from $530,000 to $1.8 million.  The district is dedicating future aid to service the debt so a public vote is not mandatory.  The first payment begins in 2027.

In a report done by the MN House Research office, the legislature was recently advised that 11 districts in the state have used this financing method for parking lot work.

In other matters:

The insurance plans for Blue Cross are estimated to be increasing $1,000 per year approximately for single payers and $2,000 annually for family policies.

The staff announced there will be a Veterans Day program this year at the high school.  If you have questions, contact the office.

The state covers free meals for students for breakfast and lunch and in Chisago Lakes there is a gap between who eats breakfast and who has the lunches.  The middle school is seeing the least amount of interest and business services director Robyn Vosberg Torgerson said staff is looking at ways to boost interest.  At all schools overall the participation is 61 percent for lunch and breakfast is closer to 25 percent.

The district enrollment has tapered downward a bit from the early week numbers. It is now at 3,144, which October counts are generally most relied upon for funding formulas.

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