Robbinsdale District Facilitates Public School Finance Lesson

Dr. Tom Melcher from the Minnesota Department of Education spoke to people about public school finance at an event at the Education Service Center on Monday night. He travels the state to talk about understanding public school finance. He says it’s a complicated formula.

“There’s a mix of funding,” said Melcher. “It comes from state, federal government, and local property tax. The state of Minnesota has tried very hard to make the system fair for students who have a wide range of characteristics. Trying to make it fair also makes it complicated, especially when you are trying to mix together different funding sources.”

Melcher didn’t comment on specific funding issues of Robbinsdale Area Schools. He did say the district faces financial challenges that are not unique to this district, like declining enrollment and growing costs associated with special education. The previous levy referendum did pass in 2018.

The Robbinsdale district is the ninth largest school district in the state. To view the school district’s financial records, click here.

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