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District reports improved budget outlook after insurance negotiations, plans for balanced amendment
Summary
Finance staff said an originally forecast $1M deficit will be addressed; insurance committee negotiations cut an expected 23% premium increase to about 9% and the legislature’s 10% insurance entitlement increase further reduced the projected 2026–27 shortfall, improving the district’s budget outlook.
The Blaine County School District No. 61 finance director updated trustees April 14 that the district expects to present a balanced amended budget in June after better‑than‑expected revenue and refined forecasting. The district had started the year with a roughly $1 million deficit assumption but now expects to correct that in the current fiscal year and reduce next year’s projected shortfall.
Trustees and staff described intensive work by an insurance committee that evaluated carrier proposals and negotiated reductions from an initially quoted 23% premium increase to an approximate 9% increase, reducing projected district premium costs by several hundred thousand dollars versus the larger quote. Separately, the legislature increased the insurance entitlement to districts by 10%, which the administration said nearly offsets the remaining premium uptick for the district. Taken together, those developments reduce the projected 2026–27 deficit materially compared with prior estimates.
Administration cautioned that enrollment and staffing variables remain in flux and that further refinements continue as retirements, resignations and internal staff movements are finalized. The board was briefed on the finance model improvements and expected reporting timelines ahead of the June budget amendment.
