Finance

Documents

• Final Budget Documents
• Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
• Enrollment Projections

Budget Development Information

In the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, we are committed to transparency and keeping our staff, families, and community informed about the financial realities that impact our schools. This page provides resources and context related to the FY26 budget, including historical funding trends, reductions we’ve made over time, and messages from district leadership. Our goal is to provide clear, factual information to help everyone better understand the challenges we face and the decisions we may need to make together.

We also believe that informed communities are strong advocates. By sharing these materials, we hope to support advocacy efforts that lead to long-term, sustainable funding for our students and schools.

FY26: July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026

1. Budget Context & Community Communication
   • Superintendent Holland’s FY26 Budget Message
   • ISER Study: Alaska Per Pupil Spending
   • KPBSD Five-Year Enrollment Projection
   • KPBSD Community Budget Meeting Presentation (February 2025)
   • Balancing Act Tool
2. Funding Charts & Financial Trends
   • Chart: Impact of Inflation on K-12 Funding (2011-FY25)
   • Chart: What the BSA Would Be If Adjusted for Inflation
3. KPBSD Budget & Operations
   • KPBSD Chart of Accounts
   • District Office Reductions Since FY17

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Base Student Allocation (BSA)?

The Base Student Allocation is the amount of money the State of Alaska provides per student to support public education. It is a key part of the state funding formula and directly impacts the funding available to districts like KPBSD. The BSA has not kept pace with inflation over time, making it harder for districts to keep up with rising costs.

Why does inflation matter in school funding?

As costs for utilities, materials, transportation, and staff increase, school districts need more resources just to maintain the same level of service. When state funding remains flat while costs rise, schools are forced to make reductions—even when student needs stay the same or grow.

What are local vs. state funding sources?

KPBSD receives funding from both the State of Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula Borough. State funding—primarily through the BSA—makes up the majority of our budget. The Borough also contributes local tax dollars to support education, up to a limit set by state law. Together, these sources determine how much we can invest in our schools.

Budget 101 Series

The Budget 101 series explore budgeting in KPBSD, with topics related to foundation funding, in-kind funding, and how the chart of accounts applies to KPBSD budgets.

• Foundation Funding Video – Sep 11
• In-Kind Video – Oct 02
• Fund Balance Video – Nov 06
• Chart of Accounts – Dec 04

Department Overview

The Finance Department consists of 8 individuals who perform all accounting functions for all funds for the District, including payroll, accounts payable, fixed assets, grants reporting, Medicaid billing, budgeting and financial reporting. The department also actively supports the schools and departments with training and day-to-day support for these accounting functions at the individual and departmental level.

The District follows the Uniform Chart of Accounts and Account Code Descriptions for Public School Districts under the direction of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

Two of the primary communication tools of this department are the annual Budget and the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. These documents as well as enrollment projections and other information are available for public inspection, posted on this page as well as other places on the District website.

Budget

The Preliminary Budget is developed after enrollment projections created in October provide the basis for staffing levels.  Big numbers for the upcoming fiscal year are presented to the Board of Education in January and the Preliminary Budget Document is presented in March. Community and stakeholder input is sought in various ways for use by the Board in considering changes to the budget before action is taken on the spending plan.  Approval by the board usually takes place in early April.

The general fund is funded based on the enrollment projection and calculations through the State educational funding formula.  The formula also provides the basis for calculation of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s local effort contributions. Changes to the funding formula are enacted by the Alaska Legislature and then approved by the Governor. Federal and State funds are also received for specific purposes and are accounted for in special revenue funds of the District.

Financial Reporting

Monthly financial reports are presented to the Board on all funds. The Board approves all budget transfers in excess of $50,000 per Board Policy and reviews all budget transfer on a quarterly basis. An annual independent audit of the District’s financial records is conducted in August, with a copy of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report sent to the Department of Education and Early Development and other agencies once it has been accepted by the board in October.