In 2016 voters overwhelmingly approved an extension of the expiring referendum, not an increase in funding. If they had not done that, class sizes now would be larger and support staff levels reduced. Budget reductions would have been even more drastic. The 2018 referendum will allow for critical investments, as well as address increasing costs as explained throughout this website.
The following is how the 2016 referendum dollars are being spent:
In 2016, MPS had a structurally unbalanced budget that was producing on-going deficits and we did not feel we could responsibly ask voters for additional money. Since that time, the district has started cost-saving measures and made structural changes so that our 2018-2019 budget is structurally balanced with a solid financial footing and a vision of how we would like to move our district forward. We believe we are in a place to ask voters to consider an investment in Minneapolis Public Schools.
The reasons are complex. Broadly, education funding from the state and federal governments hasn't kept up with inflation over the past decade. Nor do the state and federal governments fully fund the true cost of providing the services our Special Education and English Language Learner students deserve. MPS is also mandated to reimburse charter schools for transportation costs for some students. Put together, these factors add millions of dollars to MPS' cost of doing business every year. For a complete set of FAQ's about the budget, click here.
For more information about how MPS spends its money, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit the MPS Budget website.