BLUE EARTH — The Blue Earth Area School Board approved a revised 2020-2021 budget at their meeting Monday night. Financial Services coordinator Alan Wilhelmi reviewed the figures.“Our General Fund balance is showing an increase of $710,000,” Wilhelmi said. “The federal funds we received to help with COVID-19 expenses certainly helped us.”An increase in enrollment, spending freezes in different department budgets and budget reductions made last spring were other reasons listed for the increase in the General Fund.Superintendent Mandy Fletcher gave an update on the status of school funding at the state legislature.“We do not know at this time what our school funding will be for next year,” Fletcher shared. “We would normally be looking for a two percent increase in the spending formula for schools. The state in now predicting a possible $1.6 billion surplus which is quite different from what was originally expected.”She told board members a state-wide survey showed 65 percent of the state’s school districts were planning budget cuts and reductions because of the pandemic.“BEA is not in that position,” Fletcher said. “As noted before, our enrollment has increased and we have been cautious in our spending. The plans we made to keep our staff and students safe and the programs we offer have helped us retain and attract students and keep our enrollment steady.”