Minneapolis Public Schools considering a preliminary levy

The Minneapolis Public School Board is expected to approve its preliminary levy in two weeks.

That deadline approaches as board members are being briefed about a new report assessing the district’s financial and business practices.

That report, by the Center for Effective School Operations, found that basic financial tasks are getting done, but processes are often slow, are not well documented and rely on individual employee knowledge.

Now, there’s a big test for budget-makers: setting a levy that will pay for the district’s needs but not place an undue burden on taxpayers.

And MPS isn’t alone.

“So, every school district, and in fact every city and county in the state of Minnesota, is at a point where they’re beginning the process of their levy for next year,” explains Ryan Strack, senior executive officer for MPS. “So, these authorities need to preliminar...