Budget and Finance

At Minnetonka Schools, we pride ourselves on responsible and prudent fiscal stewardship to best serve the community. Top-ranked among Minnesota school districts, academically, Minnetonka Public Schools also excels in fiscal management and oversight. The district has received the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting each year since 1995 and holds a Aaa Moody’s Bond Rating (the highest possible rating).

In 2023-24—the most recent audited data available—more than 86% of our annual operating budget was directed to instructional programming.

Dollars at work in Minnetonka Schools—2023-2024*

General Fund Spending Per Student	ISD 276	MN State Average
Regular Instruction	$8,343	$848
Special Education Instruction	$2,369	$596
Operations & Maintenance	$882	$6,524
Pupil Transportation	$598	$224
Instructional Support Services	$756	$3,187
District Level Administration	$704	$447
School Level Administration	$599	$842
Student Support Services	$529	$612
Student Activities and Athletics	$406	$1,179
Career and Technical Instruction	$142	$1,101
Total Operating Expenses	$15,328	$15,560

* Minnesota Department of Education Profiles

Audit Reports

2025-2026 District Budget

District Funding

One of the Minnetonka School Board’s critical roles is to be a conscientious steward of taxpayer funds.

In Minnetonka, state funding makes up 71.5% of the annual operating budget, federal funds account for 1.7%, and 26.8% is local funding. Of that 26.8%, approximately two-thirds is voter-approved referendum funding. The other local levies are based on formulas set in statute and approved by the Board.

The Minnetonka School Board works hard to keep property tax levies as low as possible. Under the Board’s leadership, the school district has refinanced and restructured capital bonds to lower interest rates and to spread the cost of capital over the life of the assets to the benefit of taxpayers. This has resulted in significantly lower annual bond payments, which, in turn, translates into lower property tax levies than would have otherwise been possible.

General Fund Sources & Uses

Infographic displaying sources of funds FY24-25 Budget - General Fund

Infographic displaying uses of funds FY24-25 Budget - General Fund

Efficiency Excellence in Per-Pupil Spending

Minnetonka Public Schools provides exceptional and innovative programs for students and hires top teachers in the metro area while keeping its costs low.

Minnetonka Schools received $232 less per pupil than the state average in 2023-2024* and $1,740 below the cumulative average of its neighboring districts.

*MDE Profiles. Information reflects the most recent comparable data available (General Fund Operating Expenditures).

2023–2024*	Cost per Pupil
Minneapolis	$22,339
St. Paul	$21,614
Hopkins	$17,929
St. Louis Park	$17,601
Osseo	$16,560
Eden Prairie	$16,188
Edina	$15,886
Wayzata	$14,426
State Average	$15,560
Minnetonka	$15,328

Funding Education in Minnesota

2024-25 Financial Update

Like many school districts across Minnesota, the Minnetonka Public School District is grappling with budget constraints that necessitate reductions. Despite remarkable achievements by students and staff and strong community support, for the first time since 2007 Minnetonka Public Schools is forced to make substantial budget reductions to maintain financial stability over the coming years.

For updates, visit 2024-25 Financial Update.

Legislative Action - CASE

Minnetonka's Community Action for Student Education (CASE) Committee advocates at the Minnesota Legislature for full school funding. The goal of CASE is to encourage legislators to reinvest in public education at the state level and to understand how possible changes in current law can positively impact school funding and support students.

To get involved and stay informed, visit the CASE webpage.