First, thank you to everyone who took the time to attend our recent public tax meeting. It is important for us to hear directly from taxpayers, answer questions, and listen to concerns. We appreciate those who took the time to participate in that discussion.
We also continue to appreciate everyone who participated in the June 9 Building Fund election. The Building Fund received 251 yes votes and 174 no votes, or 59% support. State law requires 60% approval, meaning the proposal fell just four votes short of passing.
While the vote was very close, the needs that led us to bring the Building Fund forward have not gone away. The School Board has decided to ask district taxpayers to consider the Building Fund again this fall, with the request reduced from 20 mills to 18 mills.
October 27 Special Election
The Building Fund special election will be held:
Tuesday, October 27
8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Linton Public School – Conference Room
Enter Door #2 (West HS Wing Entrance)
One question we want to address is why this election will be held at the school rather than in conjunction with the county election.
Following the June 9 election, we received feedback from community members about having the school election and county election taking place at the same location and at the same time. Some voters experienced longer lines, while others told us they were not aware that the Building Fund question was part of a separate school election being conducted at the same location.
Based on that feedback, the School Board decided to hold the October 27 special election separately at Linton Public School. The goal is straightforward: to provide voters with a clear location, clear voting hours, and complete clarity about the specific issue being decided that day.
This is a Building Fund election conducted by Linton Public School District. We will continue to communicate the date, time, location, and entrance leading up to Election Day so district voters know exactly where and when they can cast their ballot.
Public Building Fund Meeting – October 14
We also want taxpayers to have an opportunity to learn more about the proposal and ask questions before voting.
Building Fund Public Meeting
Wednesday, October 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Linton Public School – High School Gym
We encourage taxpayers who have questions about the Building Fund, our facility needs, the proposed 18 mills, or how the funds could be used to attend.
We also want to make it easy for taxpayers to review information on their own. Our previous Building Fund articles, presentations, and communications are archived on the school website, click menu in the upper right-hand corner, then Building Fund Information.
The Financial Reality
There is also a financial reality facing our district. Our general operating revenue is beginning to flatline. Changes in North Dakota property tax law now limit how much local property tax revenue taxing districts can increase without voter approval, while a significant portion of school funding continues to depend on enrollment.
Enrollment can change from year to year, making state funding difficult to predict. At the same time, the cost of operating and maintaining our school continues to increase. In fact, our 2026–27 budget projects approximately $4.614 million in revenue from all sources, compared with $4.639 million received in 2025–26—about $24,600 less revenue this year. We are projecting a 25% ending fund balance, which equals approximately 3 months of operating costs.
That is part of the reason long-term planning matters. A Building Fund would create a dedicated revenue source specifically for our building and facility needs, rather than requiring those needs to compete with the dollars we use for the day-to-day operation and education of our students.
Taking Care of the School We Have
We want to continue emphasizing an important point: this proposal is not for the construction of a new school.
The purpose of establishing a Building Fund is to provide a dedicated source of revenue to preserve and maintain the school building we already have.
Our identified building and infrastructure needs include bathroom and locker room updates, ADA compliance and accessibility, roofing maintenance, flooring replacement and repairs, HVAC and boiler needs, electrical work, and other ongoing maintenance and infrastructure improvements.
These projects will not all happen at once, but they will need to be addressed over time. Establishing a Building Fund would provide the district with a dedicated revenue source to plan for and address those needs. It would allow our General Fund dollars to be committed to operating costs.
At 18 mills, the Building Fund is projected to generate approximately $308,000 per year based on the district's current valuation.
We understand that asking taxpayers to consider this issue again only a few months after the June election is a significant decision. The Board has reduced the request from 20 mills to 18 mills, and our responsibility between now and October 27 is to make sure taxpayers have access to the information they need to make their own decision.
Our goal remains simple: take care of the school we have, keep it safe and functional, and plan responsibly for the building's long-term needs.
Thank you to everyone who has voted, attended meetings, asked questions, provided feedback, or taken the time to learn more about the Building Fund. We appreciate the involvement of our community.
All the Best,
Michael Schirado
Superintendent
Linton Public School