CCSD21 receives highest financial profile designation from state, clean audit

School District 21 received the highest designation from the Illinois State Board of Education for its financial management, an honor that was announced during a recent meeting of the District 21 board of education. The "Recognition" designation is the highest of four categories.

The state assigns one of four financial designations to school districts based on a rubric that considers fund balance to revenue ratio, expenditures to revenue ratio, days cash on hand, and more.

School District 21 has climbed from the lowest designation to the highest in three years, thanks in large part to the cumulative reduction in the district's budget of $19.1 million over those three years.

"The 'Recognition' designation represents the dedication of our staff to implement budgetary controls to strengthen the district's financial position and poise the district for future financial stability," said Phil Pritzker, president, District 21 Board of Education.

The board of education also received an annual audit report from an independent auditing firm. The audit, which reviews overall financial statements and statements for individual funds, was clean.