Parkway presents FY26 preliminary budget; proposes $5 million one-time transfer and 20% premium increase to shore up self-funded health plan

Carrie Nunn, Parkway’s chief financial officer, presented the district’s preliminary FY26 budget to the Board of Education on May 14 and described a set of short- and long-term steps to address rising benefit costs and maintain the district’s fund balance.

Nunn said Parkway’s self-funded insurance reserve stood at about $4.2 million in March while the district’s reserve goal is $12.3 million, creating an $8.1 million shortfall. To address that gap the FY26 budget includes a one-time district contribution of $5,000,000 and a proposed 20% increase in district premiums that Nunn estimated would generate roughly $4,100,000. “We are bringing to you a balanced budget,” Nunn said.

Don Trocki, executive director of finance, described other budget items: the district remains heavily…