St. Anthony‑New Brighton board adopts balanced 2025–26 budget, cites fiscal stability

The St. Anthony‑New Brighton School Board voted 6‑0 on June 3 to adopt the district’s 2025–26 budget, completing the statutory requirement to approve revenues and expenditures before July 1.

Cassandra Palmer moved to approve the budget and Mike Overman seconded. The board recorded the unanimous vote as it closed the final review of the budget series discussed across spring meetings. The district’s proposed general fund revenue is $26,957,369 and total expenditures are $26,581,903, yielding a projected net surplus of $375,466.

The board’s approval follows budget presentations earlier this spring and a levy the district described in materials as positioning the district to avoid widespread staff cuts faced by many Minnesota districts. During the public meeting the board cited the district’s mix of state aid (projected at about $19.38 million, roughly 72% of general fund revenue) and a 9% levy increase year‑over‑year as factors in the district’s stronger fiscal outlook.

"She has built a strong finance team and effectively articulates the budget process," the evaluation summary read aloud during the meeting, referring to Superintendent Dr. Renee Corneille’s fiscal leadership. That evaluation language reflects the board’s public framing of financial stewardship during the vote.

The budget document included line-by-line fund summaries: food service, transportation, community services and a long‑term facilities maintenance (LTFM) column. The board’s vote followed the recommended motion by Cassandra Palmer and a second by Mike Overman; all six members voted yea.