2 days ago
St. Paul school board OKs $1 billion budget for 2026
The St. Paul Public Schools board of education unanimously approved a $1 billion budget for the upcoming school year on Tuesday. An estimated $51.1 million budget shortfall is to be covered by $35.5 million in reserve funds and $15.6 million in budget cuts and new revenue under the budget.
Of the overall budget reductions, 74%, or $11.5 million, come from cuts in central office departments – 8% of the district's total budget – including Schools and Learning, administration and operations and financial services, human resources and equity, strategy and innovation. Those departments will have cuts in staffing, contracts and vendor services, travel and supplies and service levels.
Feedback this year from the community and board members encouraged district officials to look toward central office administration when making reductions, said Jackie Turner, executive chief of administration and operations.
'And we heard that as, stay away from the schools as much as you can,' Turner said. 'And I believe that the budget you see tonight does all of those things.'
Drawing from the district's fund balance for the budget shortfall will maintain programs and services as much as possible, district officials said. They attribute the shortfall to state funding not keeping pace with inflation in the past 20 years and increased expenses. They also acknowledged that future adjustments may need to be made to the budget.
During its May meeting, the board approved a resolution directing the district administration to prepare a November referendum recommendation for additional district revenue. Ballot language is expected to come before the board in July.
The results of that referendum and as well as changes to enrollment may necessitate future budget adjustments, according to district officials.
'But I do hope that folks in our community who had concerns about the budget and the way that we're spending money, maybe there was something they cared about … that they will continue to speak to us if the concerns that they had bear out to be true,' board member Uriah Ward said.
While the board passed an approximately $1 billion budget last year — this year's budget is around $8 million less — board members praised the increase in transparency this time around.
Key components of the budget are construction and debt service, said district budget chief Tom Sager. The district's capital projects fund is $118.9 million.
Additional revenue will not only include the proposed referendum, but also potential reductions in the district's facilities portfolio, said SPPS Superintendent Stacie Stanley.
Some changes to the approved budget since the board's May meeting include $543,000 added from the general fund to reinstate some positions and programming in Early Childhood Family Education, or ECFE — a voluntary program for parents and their children below the age for kindergarten enrollment. Parents and community members in April had spoken against previously proposed cuts to the program. $60,000 was also added to the budget for student engagement support.
St. Paul Central students design a mascot to represent everyone
St. Paul's Maxfield Elementary breaks ground on 'community schoolyard'
SPPS: New Superintendent Stacie Stanley begins first week with district
St. Paul Public Schools narrows achievement gap in 2024 graduation rates
St. Paul schools hit pre-COVID graduation levels, state reaches record high
