District 203 approves 'outstanding' budget

Naperville Unit District 203 approved a balanced budget for the new school year Monday that includes $206.8 million in expenditures, a 5 percent increase.

Dave Zager, assistant superintendent for finance, said if that figure is adjusted for projects carried over from last year and out of the ordinary expenses such as a new phone system, expenses only rose about 3.4 percent.

The school board approved the budget 6-0 with new board member Jackie Romberg abstaining due having been on the board for less than two weeks.

"Everything really lines up overall," board member Dean Reschke said. "This is really an outstanding budget and keeping it around just above inflation is outstanding."

In the meantime, roughly 80 percent of the districts expenditures are for staff salaries and benefits. Salaries are up 2.6 percent this year and benefits rose 2.5 percent. Zager said employee insurance costs remained flat despite past annual increases of 8 percent or more. He attributed the salary and benefit figures to attrition and retirement, staffing levels, negotiated contracts and insurance premiums.

On the revenue side, there is a 5.7 percent increase this year to $216.8 million. Roughly 81 percent of that revenue is from property taxes.

In February, the district will likely place a referendum on the ballot asking voters for a tax increase to fund millions of dollars in facility improvements.

Zager said he expects the budget to be balanced through 2013.

The district's tentative reports from the 2006-07 fiscal year show a $14 million balance. The school board is considering putting $5 million of the surplus into its site and construction fund for future facility projects in addition to $5 million it has already budgeted for that fund.

The move would fulfill the district facility committee's recommendation that $10 million in budget surplus be earmarked for renovations around the district.