Dist. 211 adopts budget, avoids cuts

The Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board made a few adjustments on Thursday before unanimously adopting a $252.9 million budget for 2010-11.

The budget is down 4.6 percent from last year, or $12.3 million. District 211 officials project spending $251.1 million for 2010-11, which is down 1.8 percent, or $4.6 million, from last year.

The board approved two transfers between funds that differed from the tentative budget presented in August. The board moved $2 million from its working cash fund to its debt service fund. That's a reaction to a new state law changing the ways money is transferred between funds.

Superintendent Nancy Robb described how the district compiles its budget by first establishing spending parameters. Officials then set a minimum fund balance, which this year sits at 33 percent.

"Then you look at what will our academic needs be, what will we need as far as our health insurance plans, and so I think all those other needs are built in there," Robb said.

Assistant Superintendent for Business David Torres said the most important information is contained in the district's five-year financial projection. That helps look at variables such as changes to state funding, changes with the property tax levy and future capital improvements needed for the schools.

This year District 211's budget is without about $4 million, thanks to a reduction in the state's funding.

"The goal obviously is, as Dr. Robb has indicated, is to stay obviously within the parameters of the general policy of fund balance, as well as within the parameters established by the state to maintain the balanced budget," Torres said.

District 211 tried to avoid cuts to programs and instead delayed the purchase of items including new computers. Officials noted despite spending less than last year's budget, they're still fulling funding teachers' pensions. District 211 will contribute $24.7 million toward the Teachers' Retirement System for 2010.

Officials said previously that despite being in a solid financial position, much thanks to the 2005 voter-approved tax hike, cutting services and teachers positions might be a reality if the economy does not improve and revenues do not recover. District 211 officials have vowed to find ways to avoid those actions.