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Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State budget questions have impact on APS budget process
Jun. 10—Editor's Note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available. The Minnesota State Legislature was able to get its budget wrapped up during a furious one-day special session, but the delay in the lead-up already had uncertain repercussions on the process of Austin Public Schools budget. Slated to present a plan Monday night during the Austin Public School Board's meeting, Executive Director of Finance and Operations Todd Lechtenberg informed the board that budget finalization would come later because there was so much uncertainty at the state level and its budget. "We just have too many moving parts," Lechtenberg told the board, after going through some of the things known and unknown. The Legislature's K-12 education bill would increase funding for Minnesota schools by $4.2 million in the 2026-27 biennium, however, the bill calls for $420 million in general education funding cuts in the following biennium. While there will be some work to dig through and see what the budget ultimately consists of and its effects on APS, some of the things already in the budget included reductions in three different areas. Compensatory aid modifications could decrease revenue by around $277,136, though Lechtenberg did say that is down from what it was in the beginning at around a $1.1 million decrease. However, this is a one-time reprieve and a task force is currently being formed to address this point. Announced late Monday night, the bill would also call for a 10% cut in transportation funding for students with disabilities by fiscal year 2027, resulting in a 5% decrease in special ed transportation aid for districts in 2026. That cut would further reduce 90% coverage in 2027. This cost was 100% covered in the past. The state's education bill would also cut school library aid by $19.62 million in fiscal years 2026-27, which could reduce the impact to APS by around $31,537. However, at the same time the summer unemployment coverage was expected to be continued through 2028. Lechtenberg also pointed to several things that further add to the unknown of APS's budget including what the effects will be of the Minnesota Paid Leave legislation, which will kick into effect on Jan. 1 There will also be the impact of union settlements which are still in the process of being negotiated, the impacts of tariffs enacted by the Trump Administration, a potential district referendum and federal funding. In particular, the federal funding question revolves around title funding. The district has already received its Title 1 and Title 4 funding, but they don't know the dollar amounts for Title 2 and Title 3 funding yet. Also factored into the budget discussions will be the impact of a lower than estimated projected district enrollment, though that could be mitigated somewhat by a state aid increase to $7,481 per student representing a 2.74% increase. The district will pick up the budget discussion again on June 24, and are required to finalize the budget by June 30. In other news: Board members adopted a 14% increase to its medical insurance renewal in order to keep up with expected claims for the 2025-2026 school year as well as a 3% increase to do the same. According to Lechtenberg, the district was operating at 112% and 142% lost ratio for the 12-month spans of April 2024 to March 2025 and April 2023 to March 2024 respectively. However, the increase is a step down from last year when the district instituted a 24% increase.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pacelli among those institutions keeping an eye on potential state level cuts
May 30—Around a week ago Pacelli Catholic Schools recognized another successful class during its 2025 Commencement, graduating all 11 of its students. It's a trend that has continued over the years as the school has boasted a 98.6% 10-year graduation rate and even though class sizes range on the low end of students per class, it's a mark Pacelli has nonetheless become proud of. However, recent maneuvering within the Minnesota State Legislature have raised anxieties regarding non-public schools funding Pacelli receives from the State of Minnesota. "This has been huge in the private school world," said Pacelli Advancement Director and social Studies teacher Nick McGrath. State law allows reimbursement to schools regardless of whether or not they go to a public or private school. That reimbursement funding goes towards things like busing, however, in his most recent budget proposal, Gov. Tim Walz pinned the cutting of $109 million in funding for non-public school aid as well as funding for busing non-public school students. It's something those in the private school sector, including Pacelli, have been watching closely as the school could miss out on close to $1,100 per student. "It's just a really touchy subject if we lost our funding," McGrath said. There are plenty of misconceptions that float around in the orbit of private schools including things like its education for the upper class or in Pacelli's case, you have to be Catholic to attend — neither of which are true in its case. "There's a common saying that if you've seen one private school, you've seen one private school," McGrath said, adding that Pacelli's enrollment mirrors its much bigger neighbor across the street, Austin High School, in terms of demographics. "You don't have to jump through hoops," he said. "Seventy-five percent of the student body receives aid of some kind. We mirror the demographics of the public system." A large chunk of Pacelli's overall each year comes from fundraising, including its biggest fundraiser, the Pacelli Auction, which this year aimed for raising between $225,000 and $250,000 and uses the money for things like scholarships. The school was actually saved through a fundraiser in 1992 when the financial strain of keeping the school open very nearly closed the school permanently. This year, the auction raised a total net profit of $217,531.67. While the legislature failed to get a budget passed during the regular session, it is now facing a special session to get it completed. However, the proposal has since been indefinitely postponed. Lobbying groups for private schools have opposed the bill, with the Minnesota Association of Independent schools citing that it's contradictory to state intentions. "This legislation directly contradicts long-standing Minnesota policy that ensures equitable access to educational benefits for all students, including those attending nonpublic schools," the MAIS said in a letter to the Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee on March 30. However, educator unions have voiced support for the bill saying that money generated from the public should be used for public education. It's a source of frustration for private schools who say that education standards often cross over with those of public schools and in some cases, like Pacelli, the only difference tends to be that faith is a guiding principle. "We do not offer a cut-rate education," McGrath said. "You are not being served 80% coming Pacelli. What you are getting is a comprehensive education rooted in faith."
