When it comes to school district budgets, every dollar counts—and a surprising amount is tied directly to employee compensation and benefits. In fact, nearly 80% of a district’s budget goes toward salaries and benefits alone according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). At Bentek, we believe that with better data comes better decision-making. That’s why we created this visual breakdown of our school budget insights. Join us as we take a look at how districts spend their funds, where inefficiencies often hide, and how cost leakage in benefits administration can quietly drain resources.
Let’s go through the numbers—and see why smarter benefits management should be on every district’s radar.
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Let’s break it down:
1. How inefficiencies in benefits administration lead to cost leakage
When it comes to benefits administration, hidden costs are everywhere—from manual data entry errors to outdated systems that don’t communicate. According to SHRM, up to 25% of benefit carrier invoices contain errors, often going unnoticed and uncorrected. These inefficiencies can quietly drain a district’s budget, leading to thousands—or even millions—in unnecessary spending over time. Without tools in place to track deductions, verify eligibility, and reconcile invoices accurately, cost leakage becomes not just likely—but inevitable.
2. Why integration and automation matter more than ever
Disconnected systems mean more than just inconvenience—they create risks. Without integration between payroll, HRIS, and insurance carriers, school districts face duplicate data entry, version control issues, and costly reconciliation errors. Automation streamlines these processes, ensuring data accuracy, reducing administrative burden, and freeing up staff time. With districts balancing tight budgets and limited resources, integrated, automated benefits technology is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for operational efficiency.
3. What districts can do now to reduce waste and plan smarter
School districts don’t need to wait until the next fiscal year to make improvements. Taking a closer look at current workflows, identifying areas for automation, and ensuring your systems “talk” to one another are crucial first steps. Implementing a benefits administration platform designed for the public sector can help prevent billing discrepancies, improve reporting, and create cost transparency. The sooner districts modernize their approach, the better positioned they’ll be to make data-driven decisions that preserve funding for student-focused initiatives.
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