Saint Paul Public Schools leadership and the Board of Education have started planning for the 2025-26 budget (fiscal year 2026). Like most school districts across the state, SPPS is preparing for additional budget cuts next year due to increasing expenses and funding that has not kept up with these real costs of running a school district. Difficult decisions will need to be made to align our expenses with our revenues.
Budget decisions will be guided by the Board's parameters (e.g. funding early education, increasing enrollment, increasing student engagement and decreasing student absenteeism) and community priorities (e.g. safety, belonging, culturally responsive schools) gathered from over 10,000 students, staff and family members last school year. SPPS is committed to making these budget decisions with integrity and transparency and prioritizing the needs of students as much as possible throughout this process.
Monthly Updates
SPPS is planning for a budget shortfall of approximately $51 million next year. To minimize the impact of this shortfall on students and schools, the Board has approved the use of $32 million in reserve funds (fund balance). This means the district will need to make $19 million in reductions to balance the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year (FY26).
SPPS leadership and the Board of Education have started planning for the 2025-26 budget (fiscal year 2026). Like most school districts across the state, SPPS is preparing for additional budget cuts next year due to increasing expenses and funding that has not kept up with these real costs of running a school district. We are committed to making these decisions with integrity and transparency and prioritizing the needs of students as much as possible throughout this process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
2025-26 (FY26) Budget Documents
- FY26 Budget Timeline
- FY26 Budget Parameters & Priorities
- FY26 Budget Communications & Engagement Framework
- FY26 Budget Glossary of Terms | Hmoob | Español | Soomaali
Board Presentations
- 3/18/25 - FY26 Budget Update for the Board of Education (page 124)
- 2/18/25 - FY26 Budget Work Session
- 2/4/25 - FY26 Budget Work Session
- 1/25/25 - FY26 Budget Work Session
- 1/21/25 - FY26 Budget Work Session
- 12/03/24 - FY26 Budget Update for the Committee of the Board (page 48)
2024-25 (FY25) Budget Documents
External Resources
Twin Cities Metropolitan School Districts 2025-26 Budget Survey
Minnesota's Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD) has published the survey results of projected budget shortfalls for Twin Cities school districts under the Governor's budget proposal.
Video: Minnesota School Funding
Minnesota Association of School Administrators | A video explaining school funding and breaking down three key reasons why districts are experiencing financial challenges: Inflation and rising costs, unfunded or underfunded mandates, and the expanding role of schools in our communities.
Gaining Ground: Minnesota’s Largest School Aid Increase in a Generation
Northstar Policy Action | This report takes a deep look at the school finance measures approved by the 2023 legislature and signed into law by Governor Walz which provided the largest one year increase in state aid to Minnesota school districts in twenty years. (The full report is available here.)
Minnesota Association of School Business Officials | A video overview of school finance in Minnesota. Where does the money come from? Where does it go? What other factors influence school funding in Minnesota?