Board approves revised 2025–26 budget and adopts balanced 2026–27 budget

The St. Cloud Area School District 742 Board of Education approved revisions to the 2025–26 budget and adopted the 2026–27 budget during Monday’s meeting.

Administration recommended the revised 2025–26 budget to reflect higher-than-expected enrollment revenue, transportation insurance reimbursements, food-service grant awards and bond proceeds tied to the referendum. Executive Director Amy Skalard told the board the district projects an unrestricted general-fund ending balance of about $18.5 million — roughly 10% of budgeted expenditures and the board’s minimum policy target.

Board member Diana Fenton moved to approve the revised 2025–26 budget, a motion seconded by Scott Andresen; the board approved the motion by roll call. Later in the agenda, the administration presented the 2026–27 budget — a general-fund projection of approximately $194 million (an ~8% increase from the prior year) driven by enrollment and formula increases — and the board voted to adopt the budget after a motion by Scott Andresen and a second by Diana Fenton.

Recorded votes for the two budget items were taken by roll call. Board members recorded present and voting on the budgets included Gina Acevedo, Scott Andresen, Natalie Copeland, Zack Dorholt, Diana Fenton, Shannon Haas and Heather Weems; administration recommended and the board approved both items as presented.

Administration said the 2026–27 budget assumes conservative USDA reimbursement rates for food service and reflects expected referendum-driven capital spending (the district anticipates spending roughly $32.6 million of the $65 million referendum phasing in the next year). The board will finalize health-insurance premium rates via the district’s LMC process in August as part of internal-service fund decisions.