Dist. 301 adopts budget

Central Unit District 301 officials on Monday adopted a $51 million tentative budget for the 2007-08 school year, reserving the bulk of the money for salaries and, for the first time, eliminating the long-standing negative balance in the operations and maintenance fund.

The document, expected to be voted on in September, will undergo revisions because revenues and expenditures could change within the next two months, said Ron Cope, the district's business manager.

Those numbers also are contingent on Springfield lawmakers agreeing on a budget of its own.

"It's really a guessing game in terms of what I put in the revenues on the side of the state," Cope said. "These numbers are going to change both on the revenue and expenditure side; I can almost guarantee it."

The district has set aside $26 million for the education fund, up from a bit more than $21.4 million spent last year.

The bulk of that money is earmarked for teacher, staff and teacher's aide salaries, Cope said.

The second largest line item in the budget -- at $11.49 million -- deals with site and construction.

The district is now building and furnishing Country Trails Grade School, Prairie Knolls Middle School and a new high school addition -- all of which are due to open next month in time for the first day of school.

Officials also are adding security entrances to Howard B. Thomas Grade School, Lily Lake Grade School and Burlington Central High School. There also is a renovation of administrative offices within the high school, said Steve Hendrickson, a project manager with Shales McNutt Construction -- the district's construction manager.

This year, the operations and maintenance fund will register in the black, with the fund now expected to generate $5.2 million. The estimated ending balance in June 2008 would be $52,632. Right now, that particular fund is $159,468 in the red. Two years ago, the fund had a negative $1.5 million balance.

The tentative budget will be on file for 30 days and also will be available on the district's Web site at www.burlington.k12.il.us, Cope said.

A public hearing on the tentative budget plan is scheduled for 6:55 p.m. on Sept. 17, five minutes before the regular school board meeting.

That same day, school board members are expected to vote on approving an official budget.