Proposed Mundelein High budget calls for a surplus
With the bulk of a $10 million facility improvement plan already completed, Mundelein High School officials expect spending to decrease over the next year, according to a newly proposed annual budget.
Administrators predict they’ll spend about $37.2 million in the 2014 fiscal year, which began July 1. That’s down from an estimated $41 million.
The spending plan calls for the school to collect about $37.5 million in taxes, fees and other revenue during the year.
That’s slightly greater than the $36.2 million budgeted for the previous fiscal year, creating a projected surplus of about $300,000.
Business manager Andy Searle attributed the bump to an expected increase in property-tax revenue.
The district’s budgets have been balanced every year since 2005. That’s been a point of great pride for Superintendent Jody Ware.
The biggest challenge when crafting this year’s budget, Ware said, was the state’s continued financial instability.
“The administrative team has made a valiant effort to closely work together in creating the budget, monitoring expenditures and observing political trends in Springfield and Washington,” Ware said in an email.
Pending litigation may also increase spending, Ware said. She didn’t go into further detail.
Administrators and school board members will review the proposed budget Tuesday night in a public meeting that begins at 6:30 p.m. at the school, 1350 W. Hawley St. A vote is expected next month.
Projected spending is down an estimated $3.8 million because so much of the construction plan voters approved in 2011 is completed.
That plan raised $10 million for the work by extending existing debt rather than increasing taxes. It’s already funded the installation of artificial turf on the school’s football field, a swimming pool renovation, bathroom repairs and other improvements.
This summer, exterior windows will be replaced in the school’s oldest wing and an electrical transformer will be replaced, Ware said. Interior windows will be replaced in summer 2014, Ware said.