Kaneland school board approves final budget as district expenses rise
Kaneland Unit District 302 school board members voted this week to approve the final budget for the 2022-23 school year. The district will see an increase in expenses over the past year.
"The board is being asked to adopt a $72.2 million operating budget with a total budget of $87.5 million," Associate Superintendent Julie-Ann Fuchs said.
According to documents, operating expenses were 9.8% higher than last year's budget because of capital projects and benefits increases.
"In terms of revenue, we got additional revenue from our tax levy, from our corporate personal property replacement taxes, as well as about $86,000 from the evidence-based funding model from Springfield," Fuchs said.
Revenues were up 7.3% from last year, according to documents.
"With regard to expenditures, we added some salaries and benefits due to a contract being finalized," Fuchs said. "Additionally, we have some positions that are not able to be filled, so we are filling them with contractual services."
Support staff saw a salary increase of 7%, while administrative staff and teachers saw an increase of 5% and 3.34%, respectively, according to documents.
"Lastly, 'Tyler,' which is our student information system, has been bought out and is no longer supported as such," Fuchs said. "So we are being forced to upgrade to Infinite Campus."
Fuchs said the upgrade will cost the district a one-time fee of about $50,000 but will be better than searching for a new system.
"An investigation like that takes a long time to pick new software," she said. "This is considered an upgrade, and they will support Infinite Campus. It's a well-known software."
The board also approved the budget for the Fox Valley Career Center.
Fuchs said that, while the career center has its own board, the Kaneland school board gives the budget final approval.
"With Fox Valley Career Center, the majority of their revenues come from tuition," she said. "Their expenditures are then typical of any school, made up of salaries, benefits, purchase services and supplies and capital equipment."
Total revenue at Fox Valley Career Center exceeded expenditures by $2,068, according to documents.
Total enrollment for FVCC was 433 students, down from last year as a result of the elimination of the graphics program, according to meeting documents.