Rising costs led to an increased $82.3 million 2026 proposed budget for the Gary Community School Corp.
Chief financial officer Linda Zaborowski told the school board last week during a public hearing that the budget is up from this year’s $76 million because of higher teacher and staff state retirements funds, higher health insurance costs, and pay increases for teachers because of a new state law.
She said if property taxes and the district’s state grant doesn’t cover the expenses, the district has cash reserves to make up the difference.
The district advertised a $36.2 million education fund, which covers teacher salaries and supplies; a $24.2 million operations fund for transportation, utilities, and non-certified salaries; an $11.3 million debt service fund; and a $10.5 million referendum fund.
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The district’s advertised tax levy is $33.1 million, but property tax caps will consume $25 million of the levy.
Zaborowski said that if property tax revenue and state funding didn’t fully cover the expense increases, the district would have enough in its cash reserves to support those increases.
Citing aging heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit problems in all schools, the district’s three-year capital projects fund earmarked $6 million for equipment replacement, including boilers and chiller units.
“The state of our buildings is serious,” said Zaborowski. “We have HVAC units that are 60 years old, and they are failing. Currently, we’re just putting Band Aids on them right now.”
Other improvements include $5 million for a new roof at Gary Middle School; $300,000 for districtwide electrical repairs and $300,000 for districtwide plumbing replacement.
The district plans to purchase two 14-passenger activity buses to transport athletes to contests instead of relying on contracted buses and drivers.
Combined, the two buses will cost $212,478.
Zaborowski said the contracted service costs $30,000 per month. Coaches would drive the buses, she said.
“Teachers and coaches are already certified and are willing to do that,” she said. Buying buses and operating them in-house is one way to reduce costs, said Superintendent Yvonne Stokes.
“We’re trying to find costs we can control,” she said. “This will lessen the impact if we have our coaches drive to the events.”
The budget adoption will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday at the West Side Leadership Academy, Door V, 900 Gerry St.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune