Board approved tentative budget for 2015-16

At a meeting on July 27, the Glenbrook High School District 225 Board of Education approved the tentative 2015-16 budget. The 2015-16 budget projects $115,262,518 in revenues and $118,901,207 in expenditures in the Operating Fund. This is the first time in recent years that the district has put forth a deficit budget of $3.6 million in order to address capital improvements and debt certificate payments. However, this represents a balanced budget for normal educational operations for programs and services.

"The district has discussed the implementation of a deficit budget to fund our infrastructure needs through annual operating transfers," said Assistant Superintendent for Business Hillarie Siena. "We are transferring $3.6 million needed to cover our non-operating expenses from operating reserves, with no diminishment in the level of services for our students."

Based on the tentative budget for 2015-16, the district forecasts an Operating Fund balance of $74.1 million as of June 30, 2016.

"In 2005 when the community generously supported a referendum, the Board promised taxpayers that for a period of ten years all construction projects and educational programs and services would be adequately funded by this measure," said Board President Skip Shein. "Now, in 2016, we've not only met that promise, we have exceeded it and expect to remain on sound financial ground for the foreseeable future."

The District is 96 percent locally funded, primarily through property taxes with less than 4 percent of funding provided by state and federal sources (compared to the average Illinois school district which receives approximately 38 percent from the state and 9 percent from federal sources). This structure gives District 225 taxpayers greater control over the quality and value of their schools. It also ensures a favorable credit rating and protects the schools from severe fluctuations in revenues from both state and federal sources, which could result in the elimination of programs.

As part of the budget discussion, the Board also reviewed the previous fiscal year. During the 2014-15 school year, the district ended the year with a $238,000 deficit. This deficit is mainly attributed to property tax refunds, deferred payments from state and federal sources, and rising healthcare costs.

"We keep a watchful eye on a growing student enrollment and work collaboratively with our unions to ensure the Glenbrooks are able to continue to provide students with an exceptional educational experience that our community has known and come to expect," said Superintendent Dr. Mike Riggle.

The District will post the tentative budget for 2015-16 on its website for public viewing. The community will have an opportunity to provide input on the tentative budget at a public hearing at the regularly scheduled Board Meeting on September 15, at 7 p.m. in the Glenbrook High School District Office located at 3801 W. Lake Avenue in Glenview. In addition, the budget will be available for public viewing at the District Office reception desk, Suite 101A, for no less than 30 days, starting July 28.

The Board is expected to adopt the final budget during the business portion of its meeting on September 28.