Dist. 10 asks residents about budget shortfall

Residents can weigh in today on how Itasca Elementary District 10 should handle a projected budget shortfall of about $342,000 for the 2010-11 academic year.

The district's anticipated operating budget for the next school year is $11 million, but district officials can only collect $10.65 million because of the state's tax cap laws.

The district will host its third and final special board meeting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Itasca Village Hall, 550 W. Irving Park Road, to seek community input on whether to cut spending or tap into the district's $2.9 million reserve fund.

Superintendent Marcia Tornatore said this is the first time the district has ever faced this problem, which is why the board started budget planning several months early and opened discussions to residents.

A meeting earlier this fall attracted approximately 200 residents, while another last Wednesday attracted 40.

"We're weighing our options very delicately and asking residents, 'What do you see that can change?'" said Tornatore. "The board made a proactive effort to plan a strategy that seeks community input. And we are reviewing all programs and staffing throughout the entire district."

She added that nothing is above scrutiny, including administration, office supplies, staff, programs and bussing.

But taking the needed money from the $2.9 million reserve will put the fund below levels dictated by district policy, which is 25 to 33 percent of District 10s annual expenditures.

District officials say they will collect more property tax revenue than last year even though the tax rate is being reduced from $1.58 to $1.53 per $100 of equalized assessed value. That's because property assessments increased slightly.

Therefore, next year the owner of a $250,000 will pay about $1,200 to the school district.

The shortfall is a result of the slumping real estate market, and Tornatore said she thinks District 10 will face the same challenge in 2011-12.

"We're anticipating being right here at the drawing board again, making difficult choices."