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School Districts and Special Districts

School Districts

There are 337 school districts in Minnesota.

• Consolidation has eliminated 98 districts since 1990 (More on school district consolidation)
• Most are governed by six- or seven-member elected boards
• Most districts elect at-large board members for four-year terms

Other Special Districts

There are about 295 special taxing districts.

• Enabling law may be special or general, and determines financing
• Perform a single function (or several functions) as distinguished from general purpose governments
• Governed or administered by a board or commission, appointed or elected (or both), depending on the enabling law
• Examples are hospital, sanitary, and watershed districts, and housing redevelopment authorities (HRAs)

There are other special purpose districts without independent levy authority. Examples of these are housing improvement districts, subordinate service districts, special service districts, and districts established by joint powers agreements.

Originally published January 2011.