Spring Lake Park board adopts revised 2024–25 budget and approves proposed 2025–26 budget, applies for facilities maintenance aid

The Spring Lake Park School Board on Tuesday approved a revised fiscal 2024–25 budget, adopted a proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget and authorized submission of the fiscal‑year 2027 long‑term facilities maintenance (LTFM) application to the Minnesota Department of Education.

The board approved the revisions and the new proposal after a presentation by Amy Schultz, executive director of business services, who summarized April cash balances and multi‑year budget assumptions. “You can see we end the month at about 66 and a half million dollars,” Schultz said, describing receipts driven by state aids and anticipated large property tax payments in May and June.

The district presented a revised 2024–25 general fund reflecting one‑time capital work including roofing, chillers and furniture projects and a proposed 2025–26 budget that aligns spending to the district’s strategic priorities. Schultz told the board the proposed revenue total is roughly $113 million. She and other administrators explained that state general education aid rises about $200 per pupil (roughly 2.74% on that component), but that change applies to a portion of district revenues; other aid lines and levy amounts remain largely unchanged.

Board members pressed on enrollment trends and legislative changes that affect revenues and reimbursements. Schultz said the district’s average daily membership projection is down about 45 students from 2024–25 estimates and noted specific legislative changes: a one‑year hold harmless for compensatory aid, reductions in student support and library aids, and phased cuts to special‑education transportation reimbursement. The superintendent added that the legislature left the per‑pupil formula linked to inflation for the next two years.

The board unanimously approved the two budget motions by voice vote during the meeting. It also voted to submit the fiscal‑year 2027 LTFM application to the Minnesota Department of Education; that motion passed by voice vote as well. The district told the board the LTFM revenue will support routine deferred maintenance such as roofing, carpeting and health‑and‑safety work.

Finance clarifications provided during the session: May–June typically bring large property tax receipts; several capital projects that began in late May and early June will be paid from assigned fund balance in 2025; and nutrition services received fewer early federal payments this year than in previous years. The board was reminded that the district must adopt a budget by June 30 under the district calendar and state practice.

Less urgent items approved with the budget included routine calendar and meeting‑schedule designations and the district’s long‑range facilities plan (presented as part of the LTFM discussion). The board will publish the approved 2025–26 budget and related materials on the district website.

What happens next: administration will finalize levy documents and the LTFM application for the Minnesota Department of Education, and will continue monitoring legislative changes that could affect 2026 revenue assumptions.