Lincoln Public Schools previews 2025–26 budget; district will cover 19 mental‑health positions after federal cut

Lincoln Public Schools presented its preliminary 2025–26 budget at a July 22 special work session, and district staff told the Board of Education they will cover positions if specific federal grants are discontinued.

Dr. Standish, the district’s lead presenter during the work session, said the district “has placed sufficient funding in the budget proposal to sustain the 19 FTE for the 2526 school year” after a school‑based mental‑health grant was discontinued and will end on Dec. 31. She told the board staff are monitoring other federal funding streams and planning for a one‑year fiscal impact before decisions for 2026–27.

Why it matters: district officials said roughly $8 million in federal funds are under review and that those risks could affect about 44 full‑time‑equivalent (FTE) positions if the funding is lost. The budget staff recommended stabilizing programming for 2025–26—using the general fund where needed—and planning staffing and program changes for the 2026–27 budget cycle if the federal picture does not clarify.

Major budget moves and context District staff said the proposed 2025–26 budget uses the district’s full base‑growth levy allowance and recommends a levy reduction of about 7 cents for the general fund. The proposal also includes a 1‑cent increase in the building fund; staff estimated that 1 cent would generate about $3.8 million to be used for acquiring property, improving sites and buildings, and other one‑time capital needs. Dr. Standish noted the district’s building‑fund balance is about $7.8 million.

Staff described the district’s overall size and cash flow: the general‑fund budget cited in the…