Grayslake D46 budget gains approval

Grayslake Elementary District 46 has established a $48.5 million budget for 2011-12, which is up slightly from last year.

Board members voted 4-1 late Wednesday, with one abstention, in favor of the budget that’s up about $1 million. Kip Evans was the lone objector, while Michael Carbone abstained out of protest — both cited concerns about District 46’s spending.

Roughly $30 million of the $48.5 million budget will go toward employee salaries and benefits, a ratio that’s typical for Illinois school districts.

On the revenue side, Chief School Business Official Todd Covault said, money owed to District 46 from the state has started arriving. For example, he said, the state has paid all but $90,000 of $1.7 million it had owed to the district in July.

Before the budget gained approval, Carbone presented statistics on what he contends is a high number of distressed properties sold within District 46’s boundaries since 2009. Carbone, who works in the real-estate industry, said his research shows 103 of 218 home sales this year involved foreclosures or other financial stress.

Carbone, who plans to enter the spring Republican primary for a Lake County Board seat, said the stats he presented are why the district must hold the line on taxes and spending.

“People are moving out and they’re losing their homes,” he said. “I just had three people on my (Round Lake) street leave in the last month because they haven’t had jobs.”

But board President Ray Millington said there are many factors that would cause someone to suddenly need to sell a home, not just what a property owner pays toward a school district. Millington also works in real estate.

Board member Keith Surroz said while Carbone made some good points, officials can’t lose sight of the fact District 46’s quality schools are what lured many residents to the Grayslake area. He said no one wants to pay higher taxes.

“If we get too aggressive and make it so we are cutting the schools and stripping them out, it’s conceivable we will see a whole new trend line of a downward spike in (home) pricing,” Surroz said. “And that’ll be because people said, ‘I don’t want my kids to be in these schools.’ ”

At one point in the budget discussion late Wednesday, Millington became exasperated with Carbone, who began touting his role in starting an advisory finance committee. Millington, as board leader, wanted the conversation focused on the new budget.

“Michael, we understand how good you’re doing,” Millington told Carbone. “We applaud it. We congratulate you. Let’s move on.”