WDC Special Election 2025

The current operating levy of $563.29 per pupil unit expires on Dec. 31st, 2029. The question on the ballot asks voters to revoke the current operating levy of $563.29 per pupil unit and replace it with a new operating levy of $938.29 for a period of five years. That is an increase of $375 per pupil unit and will raise an additional $429,752 per year.

The School Board is asking for a levy increase because without an increase, significant budget reductions will need to be made for the 2026-2027 school year. These reductions would be on top of the roughly $1.6 million in reductions that have been made over the past two years. The primary factor in the projected revenue shortfall next year and in the years to come is inflation, and while state funding for public schools has increased recently, state funding has failed to keep up with inflation. In addition, new state mandates have added expenses for public schools recently that were not funded appropriately by the state. Furthermore, enrollment is down over the past few years for WDC, which is a statewide trend and is also the case for all of the school districts in Wadena County.

The average home in the WDC School District is valued at approximately $200,000. If the referendum passes the average homeowner would see an increase of $11 per month, or $131 per year. Agricultural land is not taxed for an operating levy - farmers pay operating levy taxes on their home, one acre of land and a garage. Seasonal and recreational property is not taxed for an operating levy. Click here for the tax impact chart and click here for the tax calculator where you can enter your home's assessed value and see what the tax impact would be for your family.

If the referendum passes, the new operating levy will go into effect January 1, 2026.

Residents of the Wadena-Deer Creek School District that meet voting requirements can vote on November 4th, 2025 at the Maslowski Wellness and Research Center.

Early voting for the special election will take place at the Auditor/Treasurer’s office at the Wadena County Courthouse at 415 Jefferson St. S, Wadena, MN, 56482.

The Wadena County Auditor/Treasurer’s office will be open for absentee voting Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. starting September 19th, 2025. The Wadena County Auditor/Treasurer’s office will also be open for absentee voting on Saturday, Nov. 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m and will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 3rd, 2025.

Voters can attend a presentation on the operating levy referendum at the Sept. 15th school board meeting.