The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at MPS Central Services, 5225 W. Vliet St. Meetings are open to the public and include time for public comment. The committee, formed by Superintendent Brenda Cassellius in September, is advising her and the Board of School Directors; it has not yet issued recommendations.

MPS is operating with a $1.6 billion budget this year, but has not proposed a spending total for next year. Since January, Cassellius has worked to address a $45.6 million deficit, eliminating 53 administrative jobs and 53 assistant principal positions while adding 159 classroom teacher positions.

Chris Thiel, an MPS legislative policy specialist, said state limits on how much districts can raise per student have not kept pace with inflation. He argued that local taxpayers should not be expected to make up for funding the state is required to provide.

The committee also heard about a $430 million backlog of critical building repairs, including roughly $42 million in boiler needs and more than $70 million for classroom heating and ventilation units, according to Michelle Lenski, the district’s facilities and maintenance manager. MPS is currently putting about $3 million toward deferred maintenance projects, including roofing and fire alarms.

The repair backlog is expected to grow as buildings age and systems fail, Lenski said. Lead-paint cleanup has also reduced the district’s long-term repair fund from about $85 million to roughly $20 million. Cassellius warned that the fund could be depleted within three years, forcing MPS to use operating funds for repairs.

Transportation has been another focus as MPS works on an overhaul intended to reduce costs. The district exceeded its transportation budget by more than $9 million in each of the past two school years, according to a presentation to the school board in June.

Jesse Bolling, a committee member and teacher at Rufus King High School, questioned whether bus companies are held accountable for missed routes and late arrivals. He said 20 of the 43 buses assigned to the school arrived after 8 a.m. on the day after the committee’s Oct. 7 meeting, despite classes beginning at 8 a.m.

David Fifarek, MPS senior director of transportation services, said the district recovers costs when vendors fail to meet expectations, but faces limits in replacing providers. Lower-cost service can be less reliable, he said, and the district cannot rely on its cheapest provider for all 650 buses.

The committee’s recommendations will help shape decisions about how to direct district resources amid budget pressure, aging school facilities and service concerns affecting students and families.