Preliminary Proposed Lincoln Public Schools 2025–2026 Budget
The Preliminary Proposed Budget for the 2025-2026 school year represents an investment in strategic priorities identified by the Lincoln Community. The Budget Work Session on June 24th provides details about the preliminary proposed General Fund expenditure and revenue budget. Two public work sessions, three public forums, six Board of Education meetings and an online input tool provide the community with opportunities to weigh in on the LPS budget.
June 24th, 2025 Budget Work Session

Important Dates and Events
Tuesday, June 24
Budget Work Session at 4:30 p.m.
at the SJDLC, Boardroom
Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
Opportunity for Public Comment
Wednesday, June 25
Online Input Window Opens
Presentation & Budget Forum at Noon
District Website
Presentation & Budget Forum at 6:00 p.m.
Steve Joel District Leadership Center
Thursday, June 26
Presentation & Budget Forum at 6:00 p.m.
District Website
Friday, July 11
Online Input Window Closes
Tuesday, July 22
Budget Work Session at 4:30 p.m.
at the SJDLC, Boardroom
Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
Opportunity for Public Comment
August 25
Budget Hearing
August 26
Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
Opportunity for Public Comment
Key Contacts
Kim Schmidt – Director of Budget & Finance, kschmidt@lps.org; 402-436-1708
Doug Anderson – Budget Specialist, danders5@lps.org; 402-436-1614
Julie Dougherty – Budget and Audit Technician, jdougher@lps.org; 402-436-1757
Feedback or Questions?
June 25–July 11
Please use the button below to submit your feedback or questions to the Business Affairs team. Comments will be forwarded to the Board of Education. Answers to questions submitted will be posted on our page here.
Past Budget Information

Interested in scheduling a budget presentation for your community group?
Contact Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs Dr. Liz Standish at 402-436-1636

Questions and Answers
We are evaluating how to recruit and retain numerous critical shortage area positions at LPS to better support staff and students, including SLPs. Because SLPs are part of the certificated employee group covered by the Professional Agreement with the Lincoln Education Association, any additional compensation has to be accomplished through a collaborative negotiations process with LEA.
The district is monitoring the information related to Federal Funding very closely and working to estimate the total funds potentially impacted. Strategies to address a short-term funding gap will be reviewed. Long-term, the LPS budget process will be used to review and prioritize programming if funding is reduced.
The district is considering process and standards related to outdoor spaces.
The LPS budget considers various spending, levy, and taxation caps established. The staffing plan for each school is reviewed as a part of the budget process.
The district will be updating the long-range Facility and Instructure Plan in the coming years including the need for new schools based on student enrollment trends.
Because we have recognized the two remaining associations, we are not able to implement salary increases for these two groups for 2025-26 until negotiations are concluded. We are continuing to work with both associations toward reaching an agreement before the new contract year starts on September 1. We have accounted for salary increases in next year’s budget.