The Orland High School District 230 board unanimously approved a $198 million budget Thursday, a slight increase from the tentative budget presented last month as some fund sources were updated.
Revenue is anticipated at $198.4 million with spending projected as $198.2 million, said Jeff Eagan, assistant superintendent of business services.
“I know we had some projects that we didn’t include or that were uncertain at that time,” Eagan said. “I think there might have been one or two technology-related ones and a couple (operations and maintenance) ones.”
The budget covers the fiscal that began July 1, 2026, and ends June 30, 2027. District 230 consists of Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Stagg High School in Palos Hills and Andrew High School in Tinley Park.
Board members praised staff for continuing to balance the budget in light of ongoing problems with property tax distributions, which have created budget holes for some school districts. Eagan previously said the district had not received all its property tax income from last year.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in June that tax bills would again be delayed this year.
“Based on the difficult fiscal situation that we’re in today, I think it’s pretty amazing that we continue to balance the budget,” said board member Tony Serratore. “A great job to be able to keep us still balanced and hopefully we can stay that way throughout the year.”
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The school district applied for and received a $23 million bridge loan through the Local Taxing District Loan Program, a program through which the county provides short-term, interest-free loans in the form of tax anticipation warrants to local government bodies. The bridge loans are intended to serve as a short-term fix for budgetary problems created by delayed distributions.
Eagan estimated the district has had a balanced budget for more than 20 years.
When asked how much the district expected property tax levies to increase based on its projected income, Eagan said property tax calculations are complex and include factors not yet available or beyond the district’s control.
One of the primary factors is the consumer price index for calendar year 2025, Eagan said in an email. The CPI applicable to the district’s 2026 levy is 2.7%, and that is the percentage used to project the levy payments the district will receive in spring 2027, he said.
The board invited comment from the public on the budget, but no one came forward.
Following approval, Eagan said, the budget would be shared online.