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10% decrease for 2025 Nicollet school levy

NICOLLET - The Nicollet Public School Board held a Truth in Taxation Hearing on Wednesday before their regular meeting. Jim Freihammer, Business Manager, reviewed information on the school budget year of July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025, and the 2025 Levy. The taxes levied in the fall of 2024 are payable and collected in 2025. It is district revenue for 2025-26 school year. The school district funds include the General Fund Levy based on student enrollment, the Community Education Fund Levy based on the population of the district, and the Debt Service Fund Levy based on annual debt ...

State chips in $97,000 to Sleepy Eye’s purchase of new ambulance

SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye Ambulance Coordinator Shari Hittesdorf said it’s good to get one-time emergency ambulance service aid but it would be even better to get funding on a permanent basis. Sleepy Eye Ambulance Service will receive $97,132.67 in total aid as part of $24 million in ...

SE School Board OKs 1.9% tax hike

SLEEPY EYE — The Sleepy Eye Public School Board unanimously certified a 1.68% ($17,044.91) 2025 levy increase Wednesday. The hike boosted the total levy from $1,013,293 payable 2024 to $1,030,338 payable 2025. Approval came on a motion by board member Brian Nelson, seconded by Adam Barka. School Finance Director Amanda Boomgarden said the school district’s long-term facilities (bonding) debt has expired, helping reduce the payable 2025 levy. The payable 2024 bonding debt payment was $21,780. Other items unanimously approved include high school gym floor replacement in spring 2026 ...

SE school board OKs sharing agreement

SLEEPY EYE — The Sleepy Eye Public School Board unanimously approved a three-year superintendent sharing agreement with Cedar Mountain Public School Wednesday. The Cedar Mountain School District has a part-time superintendent who’s contract ends June 30, 2025. Under the agreement ...

Traffic fatalities on the rise

NEW ULM — After falling in number since 2021, Minnesota traffic deaths are higher this year, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS). There have been 437 Minnesota traffic fatalities and more than 24,000 DWI arrests as of Tuesday, 2024. That compares to 376 traffic deaths on the same date in 2023, 402 in all of 2023, 444 in 2022, 488 in 2021 and 394 in 2020. Between 2019 and 2023, there were 664 alcohol-related driving deaths and there were more than 127,400 DWI arrests. “We have a higher number of traffic fatalities this year. There was a downward trend ...

Mayor Pelzel honored

SLEEPY EYE — Outgoing Mayor Wayne Pelzel was presented a plaque Tuesday for grateful appreciation for eight years of professional and dedicated service to the City of Sleepy Eye from the Sleepy Eye City Council, city staff and residents. Pelzel did not run for re-election this fall. Sleepy ...