At a meeting on July 25, the Glenbrook High School District 225 Board of Education reviewed the tentative budget for 2016-17 which projects an estimated $118,323,154 in revenues to the Operating Fund and $119,823,154 in expenditures, which includes a $1.5 million transfer from operating reserve to the capital projects fund for future building enhancements and maintenance.

 

"This year's tentative budget represents the district's ongoing efforts to provide an exceptional educational experience for our students at a reasonable and sustainable cost to taxpayers," said Assistant Superintendent for Business Dr. R.J. Gravel. "We continue to work with the school leadership to analyze internal and external financial trends in order to maintain the district's strong financial condition."

 

Based on the tentative budget for 2016-17, the district forecasts an Operating Fund balance of $78.2 million as of June 30, 2017.

 

The District is 94 percent locally funded, primarily through property taxes, with less than six percent of funding provided by state and federal sources (compared an average revenue of 38 percent from the state and nine percent from federal sources for other districts in Illinois). This allows District 225 taxpayers greater control over the quality and value of their schools and ensures a more favorable credit rating while further protecting the schools from severe fluctuations in revenue.

 

As part of the budget discussion, the Board also reviewed the previous fiscal year. During the 2015-16 school year, the district ended with an estimated $2 million surplus. This surplus was due to conservative assumptions based on anticipated increases in personnel expenses.  

 

The District will post the tentative budget for 2016-17 on its website for public viewing. The community will have an opportunity to provide input on the tentative budget at a public hearing to be conducted during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education on September 12, 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 August 1.

 

The Board is expected to adopt the final budget during the business portion of its meeting on September 26.