Survey: Financial relief needed

Last update: March 19, 2008 - 9:46 PM

With state funding for schools stuck in status quo mode so far this year, the Education Minnesota teachers union Wednesday released a survey showing that dozens of school districts need more money to keep from running up budget deficits.

At least 46 of the state's 346 school districts will be $113 million collectively in the hole going into the upcoming school year unless the Legislature provides some financial relief, according to the Education Minnesota survey results, which were culled from media reports and school district Web pages. Those districts include Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Duluth, Lakeville, Minneapolis, Mounds View, South Washington County, St. Cloud, St. Louis Park, St. Paul and Stillwater.

The survey was not meant to be a comprehensive look at all the state's school districts. Projected deficits cited in the survey ranged from $100,000 in St. Anthony-New Brighton to $16 million in Osseo.

Although many districts benefited from levy requests that passed in the fall, educators have argued that state funding, which adds 1 percent onto basic school funding this year, isn't enough to stave off budget cuts resulting from faster-rising costs.

NORMAN DRAPER