Bemidji School Board Approves Audit, Certifies Final Levy for 2026

The Bemidji Area Schools Board of Education is meeting in regular session tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the district office board room to consider the district audit and the final levy certification for taxes payable in 2026. Before the regular meeting, a Truth in Taxation hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m., and an informal listening session is set for 5:30 p.m. The district is allowing the public to attend in person and to watch the regular meeting on the Bemidji Area Schools YouTube channel.

Amanda Scanson, a certified public accountant with Brady Martz and Associates, is presenting the district annual audit for 2024 through 2025 for the board to review and approve. Approval of the audit is a routine but essential step in the district financial oversight cycle, confirming that revenues and expenditures are reported and documented for the fiscal period.

The board will also take action on the district 2026 levy limit certification. These taxes are payable in 2026 and will be recognized as revenue for the district in the 2026 through 2027 fiscal year. School boards are required to set a preliminary levy limit in September and then approve the final levy certification in December, a two step process meant to provide transparency and opportunities for public comment before tax rates are finalized.

For local residents the outcome affects both school budgets and property tax bills. The levy certification determines how much the district can collect from local property taxes to fund operations, staffing, and programs in the coming fiscal year. The Truth in Taxation hearing provides a formal opportunity for taxpayers to question levy calculations and for trustees to explain budget priorities and tradeoffs.

The evening schedule gives multiple avenues for public engagement. The informal listening session begins at 5:30 p.m., the Truth in Taxation hearing follows at 6 p.m., and the board convenes its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Residents who cannot attend in person can view the regular meeting live on the Bemidji Area Schools YouTube channel. The board action tonight will set financial parameters that shape district operations and local tax obligations for the next school year.