Dist. 203 proposes balanced budget for 2010-11
Naperville Unit District 203 will be able to balance its budget for the upcoming school year without cutting programs.
School board members got their first look at the 2010-11 budget on Monday, which calls for a total of $264.8 million in expenditures.
"Services in this operating budget are maintained at a level consistent with last year," said Dave Zager, assistant superintendent for finance.
The district's total budget for the upcoming year is $264.8 million, which includes $218.8 million in operating expenses - an increase of 0.64 percent over the current school year's budget.
The remaining $46 million is for construction costs. The district is undergoing $114.9 million in facility projects.
Those will be paid in part by issuing $43 million in bonds that voters authorized in a 2008 referendum. Zager said it appears the total cost of the projects will come in $7 million under budget.
The district had also planned to issue alternate revenue bonds to pay for some of the projects, but now may be able to use some of its fund balances. The district's budget will not force any program cuts for the upcoming year. Zager attributed this to a new teacher contract that institutes a salary freeze for the upcoming school year.
Employee salaries account for nearly 80 percent of the budget and will come in 1.74 percent lower than last year.
The number of certified staff has been reduced by the equivalent of about seven full-time employees, due to changes in enrollment.
Among the large projects that will impact the budget in the upcoming school year are the opening of the Ann Reid Early Childhood Center in the fall and the purchase of new Student Information System software.
The district also will expand its hot lunch program from four to all 14 elementary schools.
Part of the district's renovation budget includes building an expanded kitchen at Naperville Central where the elementary school lunches will be prepared. The cost of additional food for the lunch program expansion will be covered by the sale of the lunches.
Basic student fees for the upcoming school year will not change.
Zager said the district expects to have enough revenue to balance the budget for the next six years.
Roughly 86 percent of the district's revenue is from property taxes.
The average taxpayer in District 203 is paying 1.7 percent more than last year, due in large part to the district collecting the first payment on the $43 million in bonds for construction projects.
Another 5.5 percent of the district's revenue is from the state. Zager budgeted for a $10 million reduction in state funding for the upcoming year. He said Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed budget reduces money for District 203 by $5 million and there also is a possibility state lawmakers could eliminate the alternate formula for general state aid that District 203 uses.
The school board will take a preliminary vote on the budget at its May 17 meeting, then put it on display for a month. There will be a public hearing and final board vote on June 21.