Dist. 118's budget sound for 2009-10, but future is leaner

The budget that the Wauconda Unit District 118 school board approved this week estimates a $350,000 surplus at the end of the fiscal year - and it might be the last surplus they see for a while.

The school board approved the $48.5 million budget 7-0 Thursday night, but they are already looking ahead to leaner times.

The school district estimates it will have a $2.1 million budget deficit in 2010-11 and a $3.2 million deficit by 2011-2012, according to projections.

Board President John Armstrong said trimming programs and positions will be necessary to address the upcoming deficits.

Next February, he said, the board is expected to look at the first draft of the 2010-2011 budget and examine what school programs could be eliminated or downsized.

"In February, we'll come back to this (program) list and do some shaving," Armstrong said.

Earlier this month, the board agreed to sell $16.9 million in cash bonds. The loan will be used for district expenses, like payroll, officials said.

Superintendent Dan Coles said District 118's financial problems stem in part from the state's failure to fully fund the programs they force school districts to provide.

Bilingual education, for example, is mandated by the state, but District 118 has to pay almost 90 percent of the costs of running the program, Coles said.

As well, District 118 pays 83 percent of the costs of special education, which is the largest and most expensive state-mandated program, he added.

Special education, outside of the classroom, includes services such as speech therapists, social workers, psychologists and hearing services.