District 128 spending to increase

Many suburban government agencies have had to cut back on spending because of the nation's ongoing economic woes, but Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 officials predict they'll have more money to run the schools in the new fiscal year.

The school board and administrators expect to collect more than $74 million from property taxes, student fees, state aid and other sources in the new year, which began July 1. That total is up about 6.6 percent from the 2008 fiscal year's estimate of $69.4 million.

Yasmine Dada, the district's assistant superintendent for business, attributed much of the projected increase to the construction of a new HSBC Bank headquarters on Route 60 near the Tri-State Tollway and other new commercial developments in the area.

Interest rates for the district's savings accounts also are increasing, she said.

"Those two add up to a little more than we normally would (have)," she said.

Anticipated spending is predicted to increase, too, but not by as large of a percentage. Officials expect to spend about $77.7 million during the new fiscal year, up about 4 percent from last year's budgeted total of $74.6 million.

The school board unanimously approved the budget for the new year this week.

The new spending plan doesn't include any major building projects or renovations at either Libertyville High or Vernon Hills High. But it does call for some campus improvements, such as:

• The addition of artificial turf to the infield of the baseball diamond at Vernon Hills High, a job that could cost $252,000.

•The ongoing roof replacement project at Libertyville High, which could cost $200,000, this year.

•The completion of parking-lot improvements at Libertyville, which could cost $300,000.

•The completion of several projects at Libertyville's stadium, including construction of a new ticket booth and concession stand, which will come to about $190,000.