West St. Paul school district seeks one-time transfer from building fund to operating capital; committee lays bill over

Representatives heard testimony on House File 3470 on March 12 from Independent School District 197 (West St. Paul/Crown Heights) officials seeking permission for a one-time fund transfer from the building-construction fund to operating capital.

The district superintendent described restricted funds that remain available for specified projects (for example, indoor-air-quality improvements) but sit unused if no qualifying project exists. "These funds remain available for that purpose. But if we do not have a qualifying project, those dollars simply sit unused," the superintendent said, urging flexibility to apply money where districts have immediate operating capital needs.

The school-board chair said the proposal does not raise taxes or require new state funding and that the district had discussed the request in multiple public meetings. Committee members expressed support for local control and for the district’s transparency and accepted the motion to lay the bill over for possible inclusion.

House File 3470 was laid over for possible inclusion; no roll-call vote was recorded.