Mounds View board adopts proposed 2025–26 budget with $202M revenue and $214M planned expenditures

The Mounds View School Board on June 17 adopted the district's proposed 2025–26 budget, projecting roughly $202 million in general fund revenue and $214 million in general fund expenditures for the fiscal year.

District leaders told the board the projection is conservative and that state funding updates from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) are expected over the summer; the administration said it will file an amended budget in the fall once final state numbers are available.

Paula Steele, director of finance, and district staff outlined the key figures and fund projections. The administration explained that the apparent gap between projected revenue and expenditures is intentional: timing differences, multi‑year projects and customary budgeting practices can show higher expenditures in a given fiscal year while revenue supporting those projects was recognized earlier or will be finalized later. The packet provided to board members shows the top-line general fund projection as $202,000,000 in revenue and $214,000,000 in expenditures (rounded).

Steele and the superintendent reviewed other funds: the nutrition services and community education funds were each projected at roughly $8,000,000 in revenue and $8,000,000 in expenditures; the construction fund shows no new revenue for next year but projected expenditures of about $17,700,000 related to multi‑year projects; the debt service fund projects about $14,600,000 in revenue and $14,800,000 in expenditures for principal and interest payments. The packet also included categorical breakdowns and graphs showing that more than 75% of the general fund budget is focused on student support and instruction.

Board members praised the district's conservative budgeting stance. Board member Yolanda said the board's approach has helped keep class sizes stable and shield families from increased costs. Board member Jim noted that more than 60% of district funding comes from the state and that final state figures arrived late this year, which complicated the timing but did not change the board's conservative posture.

Administration recommended adoption of the proposed budget and the board moved and seconded the proposal; the motion carried by voice vote. The district said it will update the figures as official MDE numbers arrive and return in the fall with an amended budget reflecting final state allocations and audited figures.