Wauconda District 118 backs fee hikes for next year

Wauconda Unit District 118 families will dig a little deeper next year to pay basic registration, athletic participation and parking fees.

In March, the board of education approved $50,000 in fee increases among financial moves that included $1.5 million in budget cuts and freezes. The specific fee increases were discussed at a board meeting Thursday and could be voted on at their next meeting on May 20. This is the first increase in fees since the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Superintendent Dan Coles said the district typically raises fees every two to three years to keep up with the costs of education.

As the increases are recommended, basic registration fees would bump up $5 for kindergarten and $10 for grades one through 12. Athletic participation fees would rise by $10 for grades 6-8 with a maximum charge of $220 per family per season. For grades nine through 12, athletic fees would climb $15 with a $280 maximum charge per family per season. The parking fee would also increase by $10.

Coles said he heard plenty of input from parents when the board considered how much to cut and which fees should be raised.

"Many people indicated that folks that participate in athletics should pay more," he said.

For the first time, parents will be able to pay their fees online with a credit card. Coles said he hopes this will facilitate more payments coming in faster, as collection has been an issue for the district. Associate Superintendent for Business Services Bill Harkin said there is currently at least $50,000 in outstanding payments.

District officials say they still intend to issue $16.9 million in working cash fund bonds to have cash on hand, as the state is late with its property tax payments.

Officials planned to issue the bonds last fall, but residents gathered 1,576 signatures to keep them from doing so. An electoral board ruled 85 signatures invalid, pulling the petition below the necessary amount - 10 percent of registered voters - to stop the issuance of bonds. Petitioners appealed to the circuit court, which upheld the electoral board.

Petitioners are in the process of appealing the circuit court's decision, and the district cannot issue the bonds while an appeal is in progress.

Coles said the district has spent more than $25,000 throughout the legal proceedings.