OMAHA - Omaha Public Schools announced that updated information from the Nebraska Department of Education reduced the district’s expected shortfall for the 2026-27 school year from an initial $61 million to $50.6 million. The shortfall results from a correction in the state’s TEEOSA funding formula, which overpaid districts in the previous year. OPS officials said they may need to raise the property tax levy to help cover the gap, though the exact amount will depend on final county property valuations later this year. The district emphasized ongoing communication with the public and plans to present its five-year budget at a rescheduled board meeting on February 23.

To address the shortfall, OPS is relying primarily on property taxes and grants, while seeking savings in other areas. The district has already taken steps to reduce costs, including negotiating a lower 2.49% staff raise with the Omaha Education Association and considering program cuts such as removing cellular data plans from student iPads. OPS leaders stressed that they do not plan to reduce staff and are taking a proactive approach to balance the budget, though some non-staff expenditures may need to be reduced to ensure fiscal stability.

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