Taxpayers Fuming Over Cloquet Schools Financial Mistake

Outside Firm Miscalculated $3 Million

There is serious sticker shock in Cloquet after homeowners saw their property tax bill for the School District end up being more than double the agreed upon amount voters approved in a recent referendum.

District officials say their outside financial firm. Springsted, over calculated the amount of state aid for the district by $3 million over the next six years.

So, an resident with a home worth around $150,000, the voted on roughly $10 a month for the schools is now around $23.

“To me, that’s a problem. I’ve addressed the school board letting them know they need to get the lawyers going after Springsted. They made the mistake. Why should the tax payers pay,” explained Jim Mallery, a Cloquet taxpayer.

During the public meeting Monday night, district officials acknowledged they are in talks with their lawyers about this mistake.