BEA Fiscal Services coordinator Alan Wilhelmi, left, addresses the BEA Board at the Truth in Taxation Hearing and relates the news that the levy is decreasing.

The Blue Earth Area School Board held a couple of meetings and a public hearing which were all part of their regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 9.

That public hearing was the annual Truth in Taxation Hearing, and during that part of the meeting, Fiscal Services coordinator Alan Wilhelmi had some very good news for the board members and for the tax paying public.

The total School District tax levy was less than last year, so it would show as a decrease on property tax statements this coming year.

The board started the evening with a special board meeting that began at 5:30 p.m. and immediately went into closed session. The board conducted a mid-year evaluation of superintendent Mandy Fletcher during the closed session.

When the board reconvened in open session after 6 p.m., they first held their annual Truth in Taxation public hearing.

Only one member of the public was present and that person did not address the board during the hearing.

Fiscal Services coordinator Wilhelmi presented the information on the budget and the amount each fund would need for the property tax levy for 2025, compared to the current year.

Wilhelmi’s presentation showed the overall net property tax levy amount would decrease by $6,703.12 or a decrease of .19 percent from the previous year.

The levy in 2023 payable 2024 had been at $3,438,893.78.

Now the levy amount for 2024 payable in 2025 had dropped down to $3,432,190.66.

In September the BEA Board had set the preliminary levy at the maximum allowed, and not at any specific number.

Wilhelmi said when the final figures were all tabulated, the decrease in the levy was the result.

Later in the meeting, after the Truth in Taxation Hearing was over, the board voted on the final levy amount which was the .19 percent decrease.

During the regular meeting the board heard the annual audit report which also showed the district to be in good financial condition.

The auditor noted the healthy fund balances and financial condition of the district, calling it “one of the best I have seen.”

The audit was approved by the board later in the meeting.

In other business at the meeting the BEA School Board:

• Heard reports from the principals and Curriculum/Instruction director.

During the principal reports they took note of recently held conferences as well as the many music contests currently underway before the Christmas break.

• During reports from committees it was learned that the BEA Foundation had a very successful Buc$ for Bucs event in Elmore. Approximately $39,400 was raised.

Board member Stacey Beyer also reported that the Foundation had just given out $17,700 in requests from staff, and year-to-date they had awarded $50,850 to fund different activities.

• Approved a resolution establishing combined polling places for 2025, in case any election will be needed to be held.

• Approved the World’s Best Workforce Summary Report for 2023-2024.

•Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Blue Earth Education Association concerning the READ Act.

• Approved several personnel changes, including: new hirings of Lisa Paloma and Baylea Way as elementary teachers, Elizabeth VonDerWerff and Jazmin Lopez as paraprofessionals and Malorie Thompson as a substitute teacher; resignations of paraprofessionals Tyesha Harvey, Ashley Jacobson and Mary Dermody.

• Welcomed new BEA student School Board member Alexis Thompson, a junior. She was sworn into office by School Board Chairperson Sara Hauskins.

Hauskins also presented outgoing board member Jeff Eckles with a plaque and thanked him for his years of service to the board and the BEA School District.