Kensington board sends 4.28% budget increase to January public hearing, cites health-insurance costs and grants
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Summary
The Kensington School District board voted to send a proposed 4.28% operating budget increase to a public hearing in January, citing a $95,706 rise in health insurance, grant accounting adjustments and some staffing changes as the main drivers. The board also outlined low trust-fund balances and default figures.
The Kensington School District board voted Tuesday to send the district—s draft operating budget to a public hearing in January after staff summarized major cost drivers and options for voters.
School finance staff said the district—s proposed spending would result in a 4.28% increase in the combined food service and general funds year-over-year. The total proposed appropriation is $4,849,153; the calculated default budget is $4,697,885, a difference of about $151,000. Staff noted roughly $32,000 of the difference stems from how FY25 grant expenditures can be used in the default calculation.
Molly (staff member) told the board the single largest upward pressure is health insurance, which increased by $95,706. The budget also reflects a reduction from an unfilled teacher position and reductions in PE, art and music staffing; those staffing changes reduce salary costs by $29,451 in the packet shown to the board.
Molly reiterated that grants must be appropriated even when revenue equals grant-funded expense, so including grants in the operating budget does not directly raise taxation but changes the total appropriation voters will see on the ballot.
During public comment and Q&A, residents asked whether trust funds would be used. Staff said there is no plan to use those funds in the current proposal and reported low trust-fund balances: about $77,000 for special education, $77,000 for building repair and maintenance, and $5,000 for technology, retained as reserves for major capital failures.
Boardmember Speaker 2 moved to send the draft budget, as presented, to the January public hearing; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Board members confirmed the public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2026 at 6 p.m., the deliberative session on Feb. 3 and voting on March 10.
What happens next: the draft budget will be posted to the district website for public review; the board and staff said they will prepare outreach materials, including informational videos, to explain major drivers to voters ahead of the public hearing.