Moorhead Schools Approve Lower-Than-Expected FY 2026 Budget

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Moorhead School Board has unanimously approved a revised 2026 fiscal year budget that is $800,000 lower than previous projections from June 2025. The new budget numbers show revenue increased $1.4 million, but expenditures also rose by $2.2 million, largely due to a $925,000 project to improve the roof at the Moorhead Sports Center being moved up from 2027 to this year.

Why it matters

The lower-than-expected budget is a positive development for the Moorhead school district, which had been facing financial pressures. The passage of an operating referendum and a capital projects levy is also expected to provide a significant boost to the district's budget in fiscal year 2027.

The details

Moorhead Area Public Schools Director of Business Services Kam Wigenbach presented the revised 2026 fiscal year budget to the school board, which they unanimously approved. The new numbers show revenue increased $1.4 million from the June 2025 projections, but expenditures also rose by $2.2 million, largely due to a $925,000 project to improve the roof at the Moorhead Sports Center being moved up from 2027 to this year.

• The Moorhead School Board approved the revised 2026 fiscal year budget in February 2026.
• The $925,000 Moorhead Sports Center roof project was originally planned for fiscal year 2027 but was moved up to fiscal year 2026.

What’s next

The passage of an operating referendum and a capital projects levy is expected to provide a significant boost of more than $6.2 million in property tax revenue to the Moorhead school district's fiscal year 2027 budget.