District 203 best educational value

We find it regrettable that when Naperville Unit District 203 informs the public about its finances, information is manipulated by some in order to demean and unfairly criticize the district. When the district published a projection in 2009 indicating they could experience an operating deficit by this current school year, critics pounced on it decrying the district’s supposed lack of financial responsibility and warning that another operating referendum was right around the corner. Of course, neither happened.

This tactic continues; armed with a recent projection showing balanced operating budgets through 2016 and strong fund balances, critics are now claiming the district is collecting too much in taxes. If life were only that simple. The latest projection assumes, among other variables, that the state of Illinois continues funding education at 100 percent. However, the district only has a verbal assurance for this year only. Future funding is very much in doubt.

With only one year’s funding assured, the board voted to abate this year’s $3 million debt service levy (the second time in three years) with the intent that it will continue to monitor events on a year by year basis to see if further abatements or reductions can be made. There is no intent to overtax or create excessive surpluses, but instead, prudent fiscal management in highly uncertain times.

Taxpayers should remember that over the last 20 years District 203 per-pupil spending has essentially matched the state average — something most nearby districts can’t claim. We expect District 203 to continue to control their expenses, balance them with their revenues, and going forward, maintain their status as the best educational value in the Chicagoland area.

Thom Higgins

Peter Shulman

QualityEducation203.org

Naperville