2024–2025 Budget

The 2024-25 school year marks the beginning of a new strategic plan for Lincoln Public Schools. Teachers and students in Lincoln Public Schools will continue to excel in the classroom and school activities during the 2024-25 school year. In addition to developing a solid academic foundation in mathematics, literacy, and other basic academic skills, students continue solving physics problems and working with calculus formulas, exploring science and world history, learning about other cultures and the global society, and developing an appreciation for the fine arts. Increased student achievement for all students through excellence in teaching and learning continues to be a clear expectation of the Lincoln community, and is the number one priority for Lincoln Public Schools.

State aid was certified on February 29, 2024, for the 2024-25 budget. The 2024-25 state aid certification represents a significant decrease in state aid. Lincoln Public Schools must carefully plan for the coming years. State funding for PreK-12 education continues to be a priority topic and impacts the revenue of the district. There is a direct correlation between state funding to public schools and reliance on local property taxes. The assessed valuation is increased by 3.85%.

Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) faces both challenges and opportunities in the coming year, and does so with a pledge to continue providing quality education for all students. Educators will keep a clear focus on teaching, learning, and student achievement. The Board of Education and administration will continue to focus on providing a quality education for a growing population of students with increasingly diverse needs.

During the 2018-19 school year, the district updated the 10-year facility and infrastructure plans. A community group, the Superintendent’s Facility Advisory Committee, made recommendations related to the facility needs of the district and on February 11, 2020, voters approved a bond issue for two high schools, an elementary school, renovations to Park Middle School and Everett Elementary School, focus program facilities, early childhood facilities, and athletic facilities. In addition, the bond includes repairs, additions, and maintaining infrastructure throughout the district as well as the acquisition of new sites.

The 2024-25 school year enrollment increased by 647 students. Textbooks and school supplies will continue to cost more per student. The district experiences rising costs each and every year. Cost of utilities, fuel for buses, and other operational costs continue to rise and student needs continue to increase. The cost of existing staff increases with rising labor cost of both health insurance and salary increases.

The LPS General Fund proposed expenditure budget of $539,189,965 for the 2024-25 school year represents a 4.97% increase from the previous year’s budget. This budget allocates 80.33% to instruction (See Figure 1). This is consistent with the school district’s emphasis on teaching, learning, and increasing student achievement for all students.