December 4, 2025

MN Budget Forecast Released

Minnesota’s budget and economic outlook remains stable in the current biennium; however, structural budget challenges remain. A better-than-expected fiscal year close and higher near-term revenue collections, partially offset by increased spending estimates, result in a projected surplus of $2.465 billion in the current biennium. Higher health care costs and slow economic growth drive an increased structural imbalance in the FY 2028-29 planning estimates where the balance is now projected to be negative $2.960 billion. Total general fund reserves remain strong and at their statutory target of $3.771 billion.

MN House Research Resources: Review and Share with Your School Board

While these resources are generally shared with legislators, they have been made public, and I know you will find them useful in explaining Compensatory Revenue and School Finance to your board members – especially new ones – and to your community. 

• K-12 Education Compensatory Revenue

  • A four-page publication that explains this revenue stream

• Minnesota School Finance: A Guide for Legislators

  • This is comprehensive-156 pages-and a good resource to have on hand

Principal Associations Sponsoring “Principal for the Day”

MESPA and MASSP are encouraging principals to contact their legislators and invite them to serve as a Principal for the Day on December 9. The event has proven to be successful in the past.

Please help support the effort, and if December 9 does not work for your district, I have it on good word from the executive directors, you can select another day. Let’s show our legislators all the good work happening in Minnesota’s Public Schools!

Leadership Matters!

“When you succeed, be generous. When you fail, be compassionate. When you win, be humble. When you are scared, be thoughtful. When you are beaten, be modest.” - Taken from The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness

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Prolific reader and writer on leadership, Dr. Bill Sommers, shared this article with me. It’s a one-page read and correlates with how you invest in your colleagues to become leaders.