9/16/26 MPS FY28 Budget Working Group

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors held a Budget Working Group meeting on September 16, 2026, focused on the fiscal year 2028 budget planning for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). The meeting provided an in-depth overview of the state funding system, revenue limits, and budget challenges facing the district. Key procurement-related discussions included the impact of declining student enrollment on revenue, the three-year rolling average revenue limit formula, and the effects of charter school enrollment changes on funding. The group also discussed categorical aids such as special education, transportation, bilingual and bicultural aid, and summer school funding, highlighting that many of these aids are underfunded relative to actual expenses. The meeting addressed the district's reliance on referenda to supplement state funding due to insufficient state contributions and the ongoing constitutional lawsuit challenging the state's school funding system. Presenters emphasized the state's current budget surplus and the potential for increased funding in the upcoming state budget cycle, which would affect MPS's final budget decisions. Public comments included questions about student fees and extracurricular funding. The meeting set the stage for future sessions to delve deeper into fund accounting and budget details.