Osseo Still Has Choices

District 279 has a budget challenge, but we also have something many districts would envy: time, options, and a runway to get this right.

At the June 9 work session, one number stood out: for the first time in our district’s budget history, Osseo’s General Fund spending is projected to exceed $1 million per day.

That is a meaningful milestone, and it deserves thoughtful leadership.

For FY 2027, Osseo projects about $349.6 million in General Fund revenue and $367.8 million in General Fund spending. That means the district is budgeting to spend about $18.2 million more than it brings in next year.

But here is the important context: Osseo is not out of money. We are not in crisis. Our projected FY 2027 General Fund balance is still $87.2 million, or 23.7% of expenditures.

That puts us in a far better position than many districts already facing emergency cuts. We have time to plan carefully, but we should not waste that time.

The concern is the trend. Current projections show the fund balance declining toward the district’s 5% minimum by FY 2031. That does not call for panic. It calls for planning.

There are multiple paths to address this responsibly:

• Review spending before problems become emergencies.
• Separate one-time costs from permanent commitments.
• Protect classrooms while controlling administrative and operational growth.
• Look carefully at contracts, transportation, staffing, and facilities costs.
• Grow enrollment where it strengthens the district.
• Advocate for the state to fully fund the mandates it places on schools.

This is the kind of work that does not fit neatly into a slogan. It is detailed, sometimes difficult, and absolutely necessary.

As a School Board candidate, I believe Osseo needs steady leadership that understands both sides of the equation: we must protect strong schools for students and staff, and we must make disciplined financial decisions that keep the district financially healthy for years to come.

The good news is that Osseo still has choices. The responsibility of the next Board is to make those choices early, thoughtfully, and transparently.