District 205 Staff Presents 'Break-even' $109 Million Budget

While fiscal problems that border on insolvency plague the state of Illinois, and that trickles down to school districts relying on state money to operate, the Elmhurst Unit District 205 School Board managed to put together a balanced budget for 2011-2012.

If the budget is approved as presented Tuesday night, District 205 will take in and spend about $109 million this fiscal year.

The tentative budget includes $109.4 million in revenues and $109.1 million in expenses, which is about compared to last year. Salaries and benefits are expected to comprise almost 79 percent of expenditures, or about $77.7 million.

According to projections, 90 percent of District 205 revenues for this school year will come from property taxes and only 6.7 percent will come from the state. By comparison, schools statewide receive an average of nearly 35 percent of their revenues from the state. The main difference is, District 205 does not qualify for need-based grants from the state based on income demographics.

Regardless, staff is not counting on getting all of its share of state funds due to the district because of the condition of Illinois finances, and federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus money, will run out in September.

No major capital improvement projects are planned, but there is about $215,000 available for emergencies, such as boiler replacement.

Board member Jim Collins expressed concern that planned capital expenditures were so low, and he asked that the board at the needs of the district's buildings over the next 10 years.

A Drop in the Bucket?

Newly adjusted student fees are expected to net the district an additional $32,380. Some of that revenue is in the form of fee increases, but the fees families will pay for fine arts, industrial technology and activity buses are brand new this year. The greatest portion of the revenue from fee increases will come from the activity bus fee, which should net the district an additional $24,500.

Of the millions of dollars presented in the tentative budget, $32,380 may sound like a drop in the bucket, but it's anything but to families who are struggling with expenses already. So, before the School Board heard about the proposed budget Tuesday, students from the York Student Enrichment Team told the board how they are helping offset fee increases for families.

To help students who might not otherwise be able to participate in activities this year, the was formed in June with the goal of raising $100,000 by the beginning of the school year. Students and adults from the team said Tuesday they are halfway to their goal.

A July fund-raiser at Wilder Mansion raised $10,000, and Francesca's Amici will host an event Thursday night. 

While team members said they are grateful for the community's support, they told the board other solutions are needed.

“This process is not sustainable as it is today,” team member Deb Conroy said of YSET's fund-raising efforts.

Student Maggie Patchett, a senior who participates in drama and speech team, said often if students can't participate in activities during their freshman year, they may decide not to get involved in extracurricular events at all. 

The students also presented statistics about the cost of living in Elmhurst, as well as information on the benefits of school activities.

The budget will be on public display starting Aug. 17, and the board is expected to approve it Sept. 27.