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Schools

MPLS School Board Approves $27 million in Budget Cuts

The budget cuts are equivalent to 80 full-time teacher's salaries.

Despite uncertainty surrounding state aid for local school districts, the Minneapolis school board reluctantly approved next year's budget Tuesday. The budget cuts about $27 million from last year's budget, a cut likely to cause layoffs or staffing reductions, according to school officials.

Chief Financial Officer Peggy Ingison said her team was banking on the district's cash reserves to weather any substantial reduction in state aid that might come with a budget deal between the governor and legislature. Ingison has been one of the chief architects of this rainy day fund.

"We'll be taking a calculated risk here," she said, explaining that the district was relying on the state to find solutions to inflation-driven gradual decline in state education aid.

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If the budget deal relies on short-term compromises to bridge the $5 billion state deficit, she said, "we'll know we've got some longer-range issues to deal with."   

Ingison said the $27 million in cuts could actually be lower, as the district is on track to under-spend its budget for this year. She acknowledged that, after years of trying to keep layoffs from impacting the classroom, those cuts were now unavoidable.

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"This is based on assumptions that may go out the window," said board member Richard Mammen, who still praised the budget as "fabulous work in a difficult situation."

While $27 million is equivalent to about 80 full-time positions, Ingison said there would likely be less than 80 teachers and staff let go, because some schools could choose to cut hours instead of firing, or redistribute staff time. About half the cuts are driven by $15 million in one-time federal stimulus money used to bridge budget gaps in last year's budget. Many districts nation-wide are facing similar drastic cuts as their stimulus money runs out, as well. 

"I will support this budget," said board member Alberto Monserrate. "But this budget is unsustainable."

Board member Hussein Samatar echoed Monserrate's comments.

"These cuts are painful," said board member Jenny Arneson. "There have been cuts at my own children's school."

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