District 200 deficit-free in three years?

Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 is poised to borrow $20 million to help cover budget deficits until a solution for the district's financial woes is found.

In the meantime, Superintendent Richard Drury is voicing his optimism that the solution is three years away.

"We will have a balanced budget in three years," Drury said Wednesday.

His comments came after a public hearing on a district proposal to sell $20 million in working cash bonds.

If approved by the school board, the district will eliminate a projected $14 million shortfall in the 2009-2010 budget. The board already has agreed to make about $7.4 million in cuts to the spending plan.

By doing a mixture of cuts and borrowing, Drury said, the district is taking "small bites" out of the deficit over a three-year period.

Simply making $14 million in cuts in one year would be "totally devastating" to the district, he said.

"We decided that is not how we want to do business," Drury said. "We did not want to make that massive a change in the district all at one time."

A board vote on the bond issue is expected during the April 15 meeting. Voters don't need to approve the bond sale unless someone mounts a successful petition drive to put the question on a ballot, officials said.

The bond sale wouldn't increase the tax rate that property owners are paying to the district, officials said.

By borrowing the money now, the district will have money that could be placed in the education fund in each of the next three years to cover projected deficits. The education fund is the district's main operating fund.

"We felt that we would have enough money to ease down the problem," said Drury, adding that a district finance committee recommended the bond sale.

Another finance committee will be formed in the late summer or early fall to examine the district's long-term financial outlook and recommend options for balancing the budget.

Drury said one goal will be to get as many teachers and community members on the panel as possible.

"Even though it is a negative thing to have to deal with reductions," he said, "we think that we can do it in a very positive way as much as you possibly can."

One thing expected to help ease the financial burden is that 34 teachers are planning to retire next year. Drury said that will make it easier for the district to reduce staffing while having "less impact on children and the type of class instruction they are going to have."

Drury also said union representatives are having ongoing discussions to determine how the teachers might be able to help the budget situation.

"Whether it's give back some salary or look at ... perhaps furlough days or other things they can do," Drury said, "they are exploring that and looking at that."

Drury also disclosed that he has asked the school board to freeze his salary next year.

"That's my contribution to the community," he said. "I am not looking for a pay raise at all."

Debt: Superintendent has asked to freeze his own pay raise