The Indian Prairie District 204 School Board approved a tentative $414 million budget for the 2021-22 school year that includes a projected $6.9 million deficit to be funded with surplus cash.
About $378.3 million of the spending plan is earmarked for operating expenses, which includes salaries, benefits and overhead costs, and the remaining $35.7 million is for non-operating expenses, which includes debt and capital improvement projects.
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The budget includes money to hire about 28 new full-time-equivalent positions and to cover increases in custodial and transportation contracts. A one-time $3.7 million expenditure will be made for computer network enhancements, according to Chief School Business Official Matthew Shipley.
Among the $9 million in capital improvement projects planned are new air-conditioning systems for elementary schools, replacement of classroom smart boards, purchase of new copiers and maintenance work that was deferred this year, Shipley said.
Capital fund reserve money will be tapped to cover about $8.1 million of the proposed $9 million cost, according to the proposal.
Indian Prairie has an estimated $37.2 million in deferred maintenance projects, Shipley said. Even if they spent all their capital reserves to complete past-due projects, it would not be enough, he said.
“There’s no consistent revenue source to support our capital needs. We have been reliant on those operating (fund) transfers,” Shipley said.
“I do want to emphasize, however we have made all necessary safety and building envelope investments into our buildings. Our buildings are a safe place for learning,” he said. “We have prioritized air circulation and different changes as a direct result of COVID-19 … but where we do have needs is in the building aesthetics area and in areas that do impact the classroom and our ability to offer a modern learning environment.”
Some board members, including Justin Karubas, expressed concern that so many projects were going undone.
“Deferred maintenance is very troubling based on a budget of our size,” Karubas said. “We have a liability. We’re borrowing from our buildings and we shouldn’t continue to do so. We need a plan to repay that debt and not continue to dig that hole.”
Shipley said he plans to come back to the board in December with a detailed presentation on facilities and buildings.
Indian Prairie’s operating budget is expected to be balanced, with a projected surplus of about $505,000 because income exceeds expenditures.
When calculated on a per-student basis, the operating budget adds up to about $13,812 per pupil, 5.5% more than in 2020-21.
“Even with the additional funding from the state of Illinois, we are still trying to play catch-up,” board member Mark Rising said. “I bring that up not to complain but to let our community and taxpayers know how much and how efficient we are with our money in our district.”
The school board is expected to vote on the final 2021-22 budget on Sept. 27.