The Blaine School Board unanimously approved the budget for the 2026-2027 academic year on Monday.
The general fund projections show expenditures exceeding revenue by just over $1.5 million.
The largest portion of the anticipated revenue for the upcoming academic year comes from the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and is based on enrollment levels, which has the largest impact on revenue because of the way funding formulas are set up.
However, the district has taken a conservative estimate for enrollment numbers this year, meaning it could receive more funding from the state’s school apportionment. Superintendent Dan Chaplik also attributed the larger expenditure cost to the district bringing back some programming that had to be cut in previous years.
The budget this year will allow for expanded programming, including more career and technical education classes, additional music opportunities at the elementary school and art at the high school and the Early Childhood Education and Assistance program.
“The idea is, we want kids to get their needs met here,” Chaplik said.
The projected ending general fund balance is $3.5 million, which is within the board’s policy of maintaining a fund balance equivalent to 6% of annual expenditures.
The district feels confident in its ability to maintain a solid fund balance, even though other nearby school districts have struggled to do so.
The Educational Service District 189, which serves Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan and Island counties, will soon begin processes to recommend that OPSI change the district to second class, the classification for districts with fewer than 2,000 students.
This change would mean that next year’s budget would need to be adopted by Aug. 1.
