Board adopts 2016-2017 Budget

The Board of Education adopted a $19.8 million budget for 2016-17 after holding a public hearing and publicly displaying the budget for 30 days. The goal is to adopt a budget that balances revenues and expenses, maintains the highest AAA bond rating, continues the strong educational program that the community expects, and maintains healthy reserves, said Business Manager Dr. Sandra Martin. In its operating funds, the District receives 90 percent of its revenue through property taxes, 3 percent from state revenue and less than 1 percent from federal revenue. The remainder is from fees, tuition and earnings on investments. Revenues, unfortunately, have remained stagnant because the formula for determining any rise in property tax revenue is tied to the rate of inflation. The upcoming levy will be determined on a Consumer Price Index (CPI) that is less than .07 percent. That will mean a squeeze on the budget and continued prudent financial planning. Some additional costs in the budget this year are for legal fees, an increase to two permanent substitutes because of family leaves, a 13 percent increase in special education costs, an 11 percent increase in insurance premiums and a 4.5 percent increase in transportation costs. Salary costs will rise about $152,929 this year due to pay increases and a slight increase in the number of teachers. This year, there are 51.53 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, slightly above last year’s 51.19 FTE. Related to that is a rise in student enrollment over the last five years. The budget also includes a planned deficit in order to pay for $3.3 million in capital improvements to the two schools. Summer work included building a safety vestibule off the Butler Junior High gym, painting and adding casework and cabinetry to Brook Forest School, regrading the fields and repairing drainage issues. Martin said the District will continue its scrutiny of the educational needs each year, enrollment and preventative infrastructure improvements in order to keep costs low, save about $500,000 a year for future facility repairs and live within its revenue stream.