District 204 tweaks its budget

Calling it a cleanup measure, Indian Prairie District 204 board members Monday night approved an amended budget for fiscal 2011.

While board members had approved a tentative budget in September, they added in about $9.3 million in revenue. That includes $6.3 million in late state payments the district received in December, about $2 million in grants and programs that were not finalized when the tentative budget was approved and about $1 million in carry-over grant funds.

“This is more of a cleanup amendment to the budget not necessarily meant to change the real content and nature of the budget itself,” said Dave Holm, assistant superintendent of business and finance. “When the board approved the original budget back in September, at that time we indicated that we’d like to come back and bring an amended budget to you because there were some things that we simply didn’t know at that time.”

The extra funding allowed the district to allocate about $800,000 to replace outdated computers and other aging equipment in the district.

The board might have to further amend the budget depending on what happens in Springfield. The state legislature and governor just approved a hefty income tax increase and is considering taking on billions in debt to cover unpaid bills that may have a major impact on education funding. District 204 officials will be listening with interest to Governor Pat Quinn’s budget address February 18 and then keeping watch on legislative moves related to school funding, Holm said. Then, at the March 7 board meeting, the board will receive updated information about what district finances should look like in 2012.

The state remains behind by $8.7 million in payments owed to District 204. Until any state funding changes go through, the district is operating under the assumption that the state will continue to be behind in payments.

In total, District 204’s amended budget includes $279 million in revenues and $271 million in expenditures, leaving about $8.5 million surplus. The budget is available for public viewing at www.ispd.org.