FAQs

Hibbing Public Schools has worked hard to live within our means, but we face growing financial challenges from the rising costs of education, inflation, and unfunded government mandates. 

Despite making painful budget cuts that eliminated 34 staff positions last spring, our schools face a funding shortfall of $2.6 million that threatens our ability to continue providing the best opportunities for our local kids. For more information, visit our Challenges Page.

Hibbing Public Schools is asking voters to consider a referendum to address pressing financial needs. Without additional funding, the district will face deeper budget cuts in the coming years. Approval of the referendum would help stabilize our finances and preserve current class sizes, staffing levels, and the programs and services students depend on.

Hibbing Public Schools operates on a $41.4 million budget, and like many districts, we’ve seen significant increases in essential costs that impact our ability to balance the budget. A few examples include:

• Special education services – mandated supports require additional staffing and resources each year. In 2024, the district spent over $7 million on special education services for students.

• Health and property/liability insurance – costs have risen sharply, with health insurance up 38% and property insurance up 40% just since 2022.

• Utilities and transportation – the district spends more than $1 million annually on utilities and around $2 million on transportation, which continues to rise with fuel, insurance, and contract costs.

• Safety and security – investments such as secure entrances, school resource officers, and tools like SmartPass (a digital hall pass and accountability system) help us keep students safe.

• Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Career Academies – last year alone, we invested about $850,000 in expanding programs that give students real-world skills.

• Pre-K and early learning programs – critical for preparing students for success, but require staff and space.

• Social and emotional supports – expanded counseling, mental health services, and related resources to meet student needs.

• Building upkeep – maintaining aging facilities adds continual strain on the general fund.

These rising costs affect our ability to balance the budget while still providing the high-quality education and support our students deserve.

Yes — over 70% of school districts across Minnesota rely on funding from local, voter-approved levies to bridge funding gaps.

This is because the state of Minnesota provides the majority of funding for local schools, but this level of support is not enough for many districts to cover the costs of student services, educational programming, technology, and building needs. 

• If Question One (operating levy) does not pass, the district will face a significant budget shortfall that directly affects day-to-day classroom operations. This includes staffing cuts that may impact class sizes, specialized instruction, and student support services. The district would also need to make deep operational adjustments, potentially reducing course offerings, cutting extracurricular activities, and limiting resources for students and teachers.

• If Question Two (capital projects levy) does not pass, the district will likely need to cut, delay or scale back improvements to safety systems and technology.

• If both ballot questions do not pass, the district will be forced to consider major budget reductions, including substantial staffing cuts, the loss or scaling back of student services and programs, increased class sizes, and reduced support capacity across schools.