Minnesota school districts weren't optimistic earlier this year about securing extra funding for 2008-09 from the cash-strapped Legislature. But it happened.

The one-time funding influx lawmakers approved this spring translates to a 1 percent funding increase, or roughly $51 per student.

Several west-suburban districts put the extra cash from the state into their reserve funds. Others used it to offset increases in transportation and utility costs while maintaining programs and staffing levels from the previous school year.

Budget totals are for general fund expenditures:

BLOOMINGTON

2007-08 budget: $99.91 million

2008-09 budget: $102.62 million

What it means: Rick Kaufman, the Bloomington district's community relations director, said the new budget is going up because of inflation-related increases for items such as transportation and utilities, but even with the revenue increase the district had to cut about $900,000 worth of budget items. A levy voters approved last fall won't bring in money until 2009-10.

CHASKA

2007-08: $81.4 million

2008-09: $86 million

What it means: Steve Pumper, the Chaska School District's finance director, said enrollment is expected to continue to grow, with the addition of about 86 students this fall. He said the increase in the district's general fund revenue was offset by more than $500,000 in inflationary increases in areas such as transportation and utility costs.

EDEN PRAIRIE

2007-08: $90.6 million

2008-09: $95.4 million

What it means: A spokesperson for the Eden Prairie School District said in addition to inflation, the district will spend about $250,000 more on a plan to improve student achievement at Forest Hills Elementary School; offer world languages such as Spanish to elementary school students; and make adjustments for increased transportation and utility costs. The additional funding for the year is coming from "a planned spend-down of our fund balance," said spokeperson Camie Melton Hanily. "The district has intentionally accumulated a fund balance over the past three years in anticipation of insufficient state funding."

EDINA

2007-08: $68.4 million

2008-09: $73.8 million

What it means: Jay Willemssen, Edina's business services director, said the district didn't make any major reductions to its budget. He said the 7.7 percent increase in its general fund budget reflects inflationary increases for utilities and supplies as well as staff adjustments due to increased enrollment.

DELANO

2007-08: $17.8 million

2008-09: $18.4 million

What it means: Superintendent John Sweet said the district worked to maintain a balanced budget and its current programs and staffing levels. Delano anticipated a slight increase in enrollment in the fall.

HOPKINS

2007-08: $79.8 million

2008-09: $81.9 million

What it means: John Toop, Hopkins' business services director, said the district maintained programs from the previous year but reduced some staff positions based on projected enrollment declines. Hopkins got out of statutory operating debt -- a deficit of more than 2.5 percent of its annual expenses -- last winter after two years of budget cuts. This year, district revenue is expected to exceed expenses by $3.1 million. The district has more than $6 million in reserve.

MINNETONKA

2007-08: $72.5 million

2008-09: $75.7 million

What it means: Minnetonka School District spokeswoman Janet Swiecichowski said the district didn't make any cuts to its 2008-09 budget because of a $3.8 million-a-year levy approved by voters last fall. Swiecichowski said the voter-approved revenue helped eliminate a projected $3.4 million deficit. Minnetonka also anticipates a slight increase in enrollment this fall and will monitor its budget for increases in transportation and utility costs.

ORONO

2007-08: $23 million

2008-09: $24.2 million

What it means: Neal Lawson, Orono's assistant superintendent for business services, said the district's enrollment will remain relatively stable this fall. He said the additional revenue from the state resulted in a $120,411 surplus. The district will continue existing programs and made minor budget increases for some one-time expenditures.

OSSEO

2007-08: $210.9 million

2008-09: $205.9 million

What it means: Kelly Benusa, the Osseo School District's business services director, said the district initially reduced its budget by $16 million for next year, but restored $1.3 million to decrease class sizes after the $51-per-student state funding increase was approved, bringing its total cuts to $14.7 million. Despite relatively stable enrollment, district officials say cuts were necessary because revenue hasn't kept pace with expenses and a levy proposal last fall was only partially approved by voters. Benusa said the 2008-09 budget incorporates closing two schools -- Osseo and Edgewood elementary schools -- as well as laying off 162 teachers. It also includes inflationary adjustments for fuel and other products and services.

RICHFIELD

2007-08: $43.3 million

2008-09: $44.1 million

What it means: Michael Schwartz, the Richfield School District's business manager, said the 2008-09 budget reflects more than $1.9 million in reductions. Richfield cut 22.5 teaching positions despite receiving an additional $200,000 in revenue from the state.

ROBBINSDALE

2007-08: $133 million

2008-09: $130 million

What it means: Gary Hauan, the Robbinsdale School District's finance director, said the school board recently approved cuts totaling $5.8 million, partially because of declining enrollment and the defeat of a proposed levy in a referendum last fall. Hauan said the cuts included staff reductions, which will result in increased class sizes. Other programs were cut and some student fees will increase this fall. Hauan said the district received about $766,000 in additional state funding, which allowed it to maintain a reserve fund balance and ward off other cuts.

ST. LOUIS PARK

2007-08: $47.2 million

2008-09: $47.4 million

What it means: St. Louis Park cut more than $1.3 million from its budget, including 8.35 teaching positions and an administrative position, to offset a projected shortfall for the upcoming school year. Finance Director Sandy Salin said the state funding increase allowed the district to add back a social worker position, maintain looping at the junior high and preserve a positive fund balance.

WAYZATA

2007-08: $103 million

2008-09: $106.9 million

What it means: Alan Hopeman, the Wayzata School District's finance director, said rising energy prices contributed to significant increases in the district's transportation and utility costs. Hopeman said the district expects to spend an additional $1.5 million to add classrooms to Oakwood Elementary in Plymouth to accommodate growth in special education programs. He said the district's enrollment has remained relatively stable, and there were no staff or program cuts from the previous year.

WESTONKA

2007-08: $23.7 million

2008-09: $24.1 million

What it means: Barbara Olson, Westonka's community relations director, said the district made $510,000 in cuts to classroom and administrative programs, reflecting the district's intention to get out of statutory operating debt by the end of next school year. Last winter, an audit revealed the district had more than $1.1 million in operating debt as of June 2007.

Patrice Relerford • 612-673-4395