St. Paul schools board okays first round of budget cuts
The St. Paul school board approved a package of preliminary budget cuts to begin closing a $14.3 million deficit.[1]
Board members and district officials said the reductions will affect programs and operations across the city and called the move the first step toward a balanced budget.[1] District leaders emphasized the cuts are preliminary and that final budget decisions remain pending.[1]
Enrollment in St. Paul Public Schools has fallen sharply, with roughly 900 fewer students over two years — 500 fewer than projected for 2025-26 and another 400 expected for 2026-27. Personnel, benefits and other operating costs have outpaced state aid growth, producing repeated shortfalls; the district faced a $51.1 million gap for fiscal 2026 that was partly covered by reserves and prior cuts. Voters approved a $253.7 million, 10-year operating levy in November 2025 that reduced the 2026-27 projected shortfall by about $37 million but left a remaining gap of about $14.35 million.
District financial planning shows about $828.8 million in projected expenses against roughly $814.5 million in projected revenue for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Final budget votes and the full list of program reductions are expected as the district completes its budget process.
The mainstream summary does not mention the significant decline in enrollment at St. Paul Public Schools, which has dropped nearly 6,200 students, or 16%, from the 2014-15 to the 2023-24 school years. This trend is projected to continue, with an estimated additional loss of about 400 students for the 2026-27 year, indicating a deeper systemic issue than just the current budget cuts. [SchoolMint; My Villager](https://schoolmint.com/reversing-a-decade-of-declining-student-enrollment-at-saint-paul-public-schools/; https://www.myvillager.com/news/education/school-district-prepares-more-budget-cuts-as-enrollment-declines/article_e435c133-9729-4d66-ab82-e94a0c739104.html) Furthermore, the summary overlooks the competitive landscape that has contributed to this enrollment decline, particularly the rise of charter schools, which now enroll 60% of students not attending St. Paul Public Schools, alongside private schools and neighboring districts. This competition, combined with a demographic decline of 4,500 school-age children in the city, paints a more complex picture of the district's financial challenges than the budget cuts alone suggest. The previous year's budget process already saw cuts of approximately $11.5 million from central office departments, indicating ongoing financial pressures that the current cuts are merely a continuation of.[2]
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📊 Relevant Data
St. Paul Public Schools anticipates approximately $828.8 million in expenses and $814.5 million in revenue for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
St. Paul Public Schools weighs cuts due to shortfall for 2026-2027 — Twin Cities Pioneer Press
St. Paul Public Schools enrollment declined by nearly 6,200 students, or 16%, between the 2014-15 and 2023-24 school years, with officials estimating an additional loss of about 400 students for 2026-27. ([SchoolMint; My Villager](https://schoolmint.com/reversing-a-decade-of-declining-student-enrollment-at-saint-paul-public-schools/; https://www.myvillager.com/news/education/school-district-prepares-more-budget-cuts-as-enrollment-declines/article_e435c133-9729-4d66-ab82-e94a0c739104.html))
Reversing a Decade of Declining Student Enrollment at Saint Paul Public Schools; School district prepares more budget cuts as enrollment declines — SchoolMint; My Villager
St. Paul Public Schools cut approximately $11.5 million from central office departments in the prior year's (2025-26) budget process.
St. Paul Public Schools weighs cuts due to shortfall for 2026-2027 — Twin Cities Pioneer Press
📌 Key Facts
- St. Paul Public Schools is facing a $14.3 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year.
- The St. Paul school board has approved a set of preliminary cuts to begin closing the shortfall.
- The reductions will affect district programs and operations citywide, with final budget decisions still pending.
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