Multiple US School Districts Approve 2026 Budgets Amid Funding Challenges

Several U.S. school districts have approved their budgets for the 2025-26 fiscal year amid financial challenges and efforts to manage deficits. Tulsa Public Schools approved a $795.2 million revenue budget with $722.5 million in expenses, cutting $22 million from its general fund mainly due to the end of federal COVID-19 relief funds and internal cost reductions, while renewing its food service contract despite staff concerns. Greeley-Evans School District 6 adopted a nearly $465 million budget, down from $490 million in 2023-24, implementing cuts including staff reductions and school closures to address a projected deficit despite an increase in per-pupil funding under Colorado's new finance formula. St. Paul Public Schools approved a $1 billion budget, covering a $51.1 million shortfall through reserve funds and cuts primarily targeting central office departments, with future revenue referendums planned to address funding gaps caused by inflation and stagnant state funding. These districts are balancing budget constraints by focusing cuts away from direct school services where possible, emphasizing administrative efficiencies and responding to evolving funding formulas and economic pressures.