State aid questions spur Dist. 158 budget debate

Uncertainty over the level of next year's state aid sparked a debate over Huntley District 158's preliminary 2008 budget Thursday night.

The debate centered on whether to include in the budget an increase in state aid that has been approved by the state legislature but hasn't yet been signed into law by the governor.

The $65 million budget the board approved Thursday projects a conservative increase in state aid based on the consumer price index, a measure of inflation.

Board member Larry Snow said he wanted the preliminary budget to reflect the $400-per-student increase in the foundation level that the state legislature has passed. The foundation level determines state aid.

"The best available information is that's what it's going to be," Snow said, calling the education funding in the bill approved by the legislature a "done deal."

But other board members and Superintendent John Burkey said District 158 shouldn't count its chickens before they hatch.

"I would rather err on the side of being conservative on that revenue until it's in law," Burkey said.

The board defeated Snow's motion to include the increase in the preliminary budget but agreed to put a note on the district's Web site explaining that the budget doesn't include state aid that hasn't yet been signed into law.

The preliminary budget can be viewed during the next 30 days at District 158's Web site, www.d158.k12.il.us.

The final budget will incorporate the state aid numbers from the Illinois budget that eventually becomes law.

The District 158 board has until the end of September to approve the final budget.