Enrollment

The primary driver for school district revenue, from the State of Washington, is student enrollment. Blaine School District data indicates that enrollment peaked in 2005-06 school year at almost 2200 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) students. Beginning with the 2006-07 school year, enrolment began to drop off each year, with the declining trend continuing into the current school year. We now predict that we will have 120 fewer students enrolled this school year (2009-10) than we saw in the 2005-06 school year. This decline represents approximately $600,000 less revenue annually from the State of Washington than we would have received had enrollment remained constant over this five year period of time.

Fund Balance

At the conclusion of each budget year, the level of district general operating funds left in investment with the Whatcom County Treasurer’s Office is referred to as “Fund Balance”. During the period of time that enrollment was increasing substantially in the Blaine School District, the “Fund Balance” continued to climb as well. With our recent period of enrollment decline, we have made every effort to keep existing programs and services in place. In doing so, while also accounting for substantial increases in employment related costs, and other inflationary factors, our projected “Fund Balance” for 2009-10 is now set at 5% of overall budget, which represents the Board directed minimum. The “Fund Balance” serves as a contingency for addressing any number of unanticipated expenditures, and as such, we remain committed to holding to the 5% level throughout the budget process.

Levy Revenue

The Blaine School District is fortunate to have in place a four-year Maintenance and Operations Levy, that will extend through December of 2012. Voters in the Blaine School District have approved the maximum levy amount allowable under law. The Maintenance and Operations Levy will increase by $200,000-$250,000 annually during this four year period. This increase helps to offset the approximately 7% annual inflation rate (average) that we project for all non-employee related costs.

Blaine School District Budget

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction  (OSPI) provides easy access to numerous budget and revenue documents for all school districts in the State of Washington.  To learn more about the details of the Blaine School District fiscal history, please click here and then move to “Blaine” in the drop down menu.

The Blaine School District 2009-10 Budget Report is also available as a download - Here

Budget questions or comments can be emailed to Donna D’Angelo, Business Manager, at budgetquestions@blainesd.org