Kaneland budget assumes 2 percent more spending
The Kaneland school district has not levied, then transfered, extra property tax money from its transportation fund to its education fund. This was incorrectly reported in a July 28 article.
The Kaneland school district will avoid a criticized idea of transferring surplus money from the transportation fund to the education fund in its proposed 2015-16 budget.
Julie-Ann Fuchs, associate superintendent, told the school board Monday the education fund likely won't need the money, as it will have enough in reserve to cover an anticipated deficit.
Former board member Tony Valente had vehemently criticized district administrators and the board in 2013 for levying more property taxes for transportation than it likely would need and planning to transfer the money to the education fund, characterizing it as a "back door" way to raise property taxes more than the tax cap law permits without voters' permission.
The district has not, however, made such a transfer.
The board adopted the tentative budget of $68.2 million in expenses, $55.5 million of which is for operations. The spending on operations - buildings, transportation, personnel, supplies and more - is expected to increase 2 percent more than the final 2014 amended budget. It will vote on the final budget Sept. 14. The fiscal year began July 1, but the state doesn't require a budget to be adopted until Sept. 30.
As usual, the budget will rely mostly on property taxes for support. About 18 percent of the district's income will come from the state, and about 3 percent from the federal government, Fuchs said.
On the expenditure side, it includes the purchase of 10 new school buses. They have been ordered and are expected to arrive by Sept. 1. The district had hoped to have them before school starts Aug. 19.
"We call them (the vendor) every week to remind them how badly we need them," Fuchs said.
It budgets 2.5 percent in salary increases for nonunionized support workers and administrators and assumes the district will receive at least 89 percent of the general state aid it is due.
That number could change before the budget is adopted Sept. 14, depending on how the state's budget is finalized, Fuchs said.
The numbers may also change as the district and the Kaneland Education Association have yet to agree to a new contract. The negotiating teams will meet Thursday and Friday, and three times next week.