Taxpayers fund 450 million 'free' school meals in Minnesota

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(The Center Square) – The taxpayer cost of Minnesota’s “free” school meal program continues to grow each year, with the program running significantly over budget.

Since the launch of the School Meals Program in 2023, nearly 450 million meals have been served in Minnesota’s public, charter, and non-public schools. Just in its third year, it funded more than 150 million free meals for students.

Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat who helped spearhead the program, applauded it as the school year kicked off earlier this month.

“Every meal we serve means one less child worried about hunger and one more student ready to learn,” Walz said. “As we begin a new school year, we’re reminded that breakfast and lunch are essential to a child’s health, development, and success . . . Thanks to this program, kids can concentrate on the science lesson or the game at recess instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from.”

The program was passed and funded by the Democrat-held legislative trifecta in 2023 and provides free breakfast and lunch to K-12 students, regardless of = family income.

“The Free School Meals for Kids program has transformed how we serve our students and support Minnesota families,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett. “This statewide effort removes stigma, keeps money in families’ pockets, and gives students the confidence to succeed in school and beyond.”

Not everyone is confident in the program, particularly as its costs have reportedly ballooned far beyond the amount originally budgeted.

“In the context of government programs, 'free' actually means that taxpayers are paying, and that cost keeps rising," said John Phelan, an economist at the Center of the American Experiment. "Instead of the forecast $600 million in three years, ‘free’ school meals have actually cost $876 million, 46% above forecast, with the cost rising by 10% in just two years."

The governor’s office said the taxpayer-funded program saves Minnesota’s families an average of $1,000 per student annually, calling it a “historic investment.”

Additionally, Walz has defended the extra spending as “a wonderful problem to have,” showing it was a needed “investment” from the taxpayers.

Phelan pushed back against this interpretation of the “massive overspending.”

“With budgeting and spending like this, it is little wonder that the state is facing a budget deficit,” he said. “We see again one of the consistent problems the state has faced under Gov. Walz’ administration; namely his insistence on judging whether programs are successful based on how much money they spend, not on whether they produce any results.”

Just in its first year, student breakfast participation grew by 40% and lunch participation grew by 15%. That and inflation likely contributed to the increased expenditures.