Blackford County School District Finances Stable but Facing Enrollment Decline

From the Blackford County School Board of Finance meeting on January 20, 2026

The superintendent presented the annual financial review at the Board of Finance meeting, describing a district that has stabilized its finances through building consolidation — from five to three buildings — but now faces declining enrollment and revenue pressures.

The 2025 Operations Fund ended with a balance of $1,231,055, the highest since the fund's inception. However, the district overspent by $168,000 across combined funds in 2025, with the education fund down approximately $600,000 and the operations fund up about $424,000. Roughly $350,000 was transferred from the education fund to operations throughout the year.

Enrollment dropped by approximately 30 students at the start of the year. Per-pupil funding increases have been offsetting losses, but the superintendent warned the gap is narrowing. The Education Fund balance stood at 26% of anticipated expenditures as of March — well above the board's 8% minimum and 15% target.

A local option income tax currently provides approximately $250,000 per year to operations. It was set to expire in 2028, but House Bill 1210 extended it one year to 2029 — still a looming revenue cliff.

The superintendent warned the district is "a little larger personnel-wise than we need to be for the number of kids" and said staffing reductions would be handled through attrition, "maybe a little more aggressive than in the past." Two or three positions created during federal COVID relief funding that were retained after that money ended were flagged for review.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County School Board meeting, January 20, 2026