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Lakeland District board approves $78.9 million proposed budget for 2026–27
Summary
The Lakeland School District board approved a proposed $78.9 million budget for the 2026–27 school year, authorizing the CFO to file required state documents; the plan holds the full supplemental levy on the books, shifts some department coding, and recommends a small employee benefit offset increase.
The Lakeland School District board on Thursday approved the district’s proposed $78.9 million budget for the 2026–27 school year and authorized the district CFO to submit the required documentation to the Idaho State Department of Education.
District staff presented a budget that shows $51.1 million in general‑fund revenues and $27.7 million in other funds, with salaries and benefits accounting for the largest expense. To preserve levy authority the finance team said it budgeted the full 7.52 mills of supplemental property‑tax revenue on the books and will reconcile the state’s property‑tax relief payment when the official amount is released in late August. The presenter said state property‑tax relief totaled slightly more than $4 million last year and staff expect roughly $1.9–$2.0 million for FY27, so the budget shows the full levy and will offset the difference once state figures are final.
The packet also reflects several structural and program changes. The district moved the human‑resources cost center from district administration into business operations, shifting personnel costs into that program line. Staff recommended raising the monthly district benefit offset for employees from $860 ($10,320 annually) to $875 ($10,500 annually) to reflect a 10.3% increase in the health‑insurance portion of state discretionary funding and help close a modest shortfall.
Presenter commentary explained that some federal and state fund lines were budgeted conservatively because reimbursements and final allocations are reported on a reimbursement or annual basis; Title I funding, for example, dropped this year based on census data and charter/private‑school reporting, and staff reallocated personnel within Title I and used allowable transfers from Title II/IV to preserve services.
Board members asked for clarifications on year‑to‑date expenses that exceed next year’s budget lines; staff said the variance reflects timing of transfers, retroactive salary increases and reimbursements, and that some federal funds are drawn on a reimbursement basis and will net to zero across the fiscal year.
The board passed the motion to approve the proposed budget and the amendment authorizing the CFO to file required state documents by a voice vote with no recorded opposition. Next procedural steps: the CFO will submit the budget documents to the state and the district will finalize any technical corrections to the packet before adoption deadlines.
