Blaine schools adopt budget

KIRA MILLAGE - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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BLAINE - The Blaine School Board unanimously adopted the $21 million 2009-10 budget at a meeting Monday night, July 27.

The budget includes about $1.12 million in program adjustments, including about $48,000 in new revenue from increased meal prices and fees for sports participation and use of district facilities. The remainder of the adjustment is from budget cuts, including cutting building and department budgets by 15 percent.

Teacher staffing at the high school will be down the equivalent of about 2.5 full-time positions, but that reduction is due to declining enrollment.

The budget includes about $600,000 in federal stimulus funding to help offset state revenue decreases. About $100,000 will be used from the district's reserves to offset more cuts.

By the end of the school year, about $1 million is expected in reserves in the general fund, which pays for the day-to-day operation of the district. That is about 5 percent of the district's expenditures, which is below the board goal of 6 percent.

Reach Kira Millage Cox at kira.millage@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2266. Visit her School Days blog at TheBellinghamHerald.com/blogs.