Image with students raising arms and cheering with a logo that says LCWM, Stability and excellence. Vote November 3. Levy referendum 2026. This fall, we are asking you to consider investing in our schools to continue educational excellence for years to come!

Part 1: Why the LCWM School Board Is Bringing an Operating Levy Referendum to Voters

LCWM

August 11, 2026

Part 1: Why the LCWM School Board Is Bringing an Operating Levy Referendum to Voters

This November, voters in the Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School District will be asked to consider an operating levy referendum. As your superintendent, I want to explain why the School Board made the decision to place this question on the ballot and what it means for our schools and community.

The decision to ask taxpayers for additional support is never taken lightly. Over the past several months, the School Board has spent considerable time reviewing the district's financial outlook, discussing future needs, and evaluating options.

Like many school districts across Minnesota, LCWM continues to experience rising costs in nearly every area of our operations. Expenses for employee salaries and benefits, utilities, transportation, technology, insurance, and student services continue to increase each year. While state funding has increased in recent years, it has not fully kept pace with those growing costs.

As a district, we have worked hard to be responsible with taxpayer dollars. We have reduced staffing through attrition, carefully monitored spending, delayed purchases when appropriate, and continually looked for efficiencies while maintaining opportunities for students.

Those efforts have helped us manage our budget, but they do not eliminate the structural gap between revenues and expenditures.

After reviewing the district's financial projections, the School Board determined that asking the community to consider an operating levy was the most responsible long-term option.

If approved, the referendum would generate approximately $400,000 each year to support the district's operating budget. Those dollars would help maintain the educational programs and student opportunities our community expects while providing greater financial stability for the future.

One of the things I appreciate most about the LCWM community is that people want to understand the "why" behind decisions. Over the coming months, our goal is to provide factual, transparent information so every voter can make an informed decision.

The referendum is not about asking people how they should vote. It is about making sure everyone understands why the question is being asked and what it would mean for our schools.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about this important topic and for your continued support of Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Schools.