Barrington District 220 could trim $1 million from next year's budget

Barrington Area Unit District 220 board members plan $1 million in budget cuts in an effort to have a balanced spending plan for the 2020-21 academic year.

District officials first began looking at revenue projections for the next school year in January, but the economic downturn in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is leading to revisions before the 2020-21 tentative budget is addressed by the school board at a meeting July 14.

Under the proposal, the district would save $450,000 by not filling six certified teaching positions and another $250,000 by leaving 12 support staff jobs vacant. Another $300,000 would be saved through a reduction in supply and service purchases.

Superintendent Brian Harris on Tuesday presented board members a list of possible budget cuts totaling $2 million. The school board decided that $1 million would be appropriate.

"I will say this: No matter what we do here, it's going to be tough to get a balanced budget that makes everybody ... feel comfortable," Harris told the school board.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services David Bein said about $153 million in budgeted revenue was projected for the fiscal year ending June 30.

Property taxes account for about 80% of the district's annual revenue and funds education, transportation, and operations and maintenance.

District 220 educates nearly 9,000 students from a 72-square-mile area that includes portions of Cook, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties. Cook taxes typically are collected in March and August installments, with Kane, Lake and McHenry in June and September. This year, Cook officials have agreed to not charge late fees for the first two months after Aug. 1.