Shakopee Public Schools outlines $7M–$9M budget gap; board to consider operating-levy questions and $3M in cuts

Shakopee Public School District Superintendent Dr. Dan Redmond told the school board Monday that the district faces a projected $7 million to $9 million operating deficit for the 2026–27 school year, driven by declining enrollment and state funding that has not kept pace with inflation.

The district is recommending a set of expenditure adjustments totaling $3 million that leadership describes as largely the result of continuing enrollment declines. Redmond said the board should be prepared on June 23 to decide whether to place one or two operating-levy questions on the Nov. 4 ballot to raise new revenue or instead adopt deeper budget cuts.

Why it matters: the board’s choice will determine whether the district attempts to replace lost state purchasing power and avoid steeper, recurring cuts to classrooms and programs. Redmond and finance staff presented…