Becker residents headed to the polls on Nov. 4 to decide two key issues affecting Becker Public Schools: whether to approve a new operating levy and who would fill a vacant school board seat. 

No city offices were on the ballot this cycle, making this year’s local election entirely school-district focused. Becker’s next mayoral and council elections are scheduled for 2026 and 2027, respectively.

On the levy question, voters were asked to approve a local property tax increase of $200 per pupil, indexed for inflation, over a 10-year period. According to the district’s estimates, if approved, the levy would begin with taxes payable in 2026 and generate an estimated $643,000 annually for district operations. The official summary issued by the Minnesota Secretary of State described the measure as intended to support staffing, classroom programs, student transportation, and utilities—mirroring dozens of similar measures put before voters across Minnesota this fall, as districts sought to offset rising costs and inflation pressures that have strained education budgets across the state. 

Despite the statewide trend of levy approvals, the Becker district’s measure did not pass. According to “at-a-glance” results reported by KRWC, Becker’s question recorded roughly 500 “Yes” votes to 840 “No” votes.

In the special election for the at-large school board seat vacated by Troy Berning, only one candidate, Renée Regel, filed and ran unopposed. The tallied vote count showed approximately 970 votes cast in her favor.

With the levy off the table for now, district leaders face the reality of adjusting financial plans for the coming school years. The proposed $643,000 boost had been earmarked to shore up day-to-day operations. Without it, administrators anticipate more belt-tightening and revisiting program, staffing, and scheduling decisions.

The rejection echoes a modest, but notable, shift in voter sentiment. While many Minnesota school districts passed levies this fall—nearly 70 percent—some rural and smaller districts, such as Becker, Benson, and Deer River were among those whose measures failed.

District officials will now begin discussions on next steps—whether to bring a revised levy to voters in the future, seek alternative funding strategies, or restructure spending and staffing to adapt to their static revenue base. 

Meanwhile, Renée Regel will assume the board seat without opposition, giving her an opportunity to engage directly with these fiscal and programmatic challenges from day one.

As Becker Public Schools moves forward, attention will turn to how the district manages its budget and priorities in light of the community’s decision this fall.