Post by doctorwho on May 9, 2010 8:42:13 GMT -6
I guess that's what happens when you don't piss your money away on unneeded commodities and 'secret' ( to most of the public) financing
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District 203 budget balanced
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2251976,6_1_NA09_D203_S1-100509.article
May 9, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Naperville District 203 remains in stable financial condition as it looks toward next school year with a balanced budget.
"I think we're in a place, unlike other school districts including Indian Prairie, where we can weather the storm from the state," said Dave Zager, assistant superintendent for business. "At least for now."
Earlier this week the Board of Education was presented with the proposed 2010-2011 budget. Proposed is a $218.8 million operating budget, which represents a 0.64 percent increase over this year's $217.4 million operating budget.
"That's everything but the construction that's going on from the referendum we passed in 2008," Zager said.
The capital projects budget shows expenditures at $40.8 million, with the district in the third year of its facilities improvement plan. This year, the district anticipates the completing the Ann Reid Early Childhood Center, Mill Street School, Naperville North High School renovations and much of the construction at Naperville Central High School.
While state funding is expected to drop by 42 percent, or by about $10 million, services and programs will be maintained at the current level, Zager said. Helping the district maintain its condition was the teachers' contract approved in March, Zager said.
"One of the reasons we're in the place that we're at was the settlement the NEUA gave," Zager said.
The Naperville Education Unit Association, the District 203 teachers union, and the district agreed to a three-year contract that calls for no increase in base pay the first year and an estimated average annual increase in base pay of 1 percent over the life of the contract.
Staffing makes up the largest portion of the district's operating budget at 79 percent, or $172.4 million in salary and benefits. Staffing level was reduced by 6.75 full-time employees for the coming school year as a result of enrollment, Zager said.
Major expenses impacting next year's budget include the opening of the Reid Early Childhood Center, the replacement of the Student Information System software and expanding the hot lunch program from four elementary schools to all 14. The $500,000 cost of expanding the lunch program is expected to be offset by the price of student lunches.
"The amount we spend, it's a break even for us," Zager said.
The majority of the revenue in the budget comes from property taxes, which make up 86 percent of the operating budget. The tax rate is expected to increase !.7 percent, with the tax rate raised from 3.8954 to 3.9218. That means the owner of a home valued at $375,000 can expect their tax bill to the school district to increase from $4,635 to $4,714, Zager said.
The Board of Education anticipates it will adopt the 2010-2011 budget at its June 21 meeting, which is the last meeting before the new fiscal year. At its next board meeting -- 7 p.m. May 17 at the Administrative Center, 203 W. Hillside Ave. -- the board will vote to place the budget on file for public inspection and set a public hearing date.
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District 203 budget balanced
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2251976,6_1_NA09_D203_S1-100509.article
May 9, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Naperville District 203 remains in stable financial condition as it looks toward next school year with a balanced budget.
"I think we're in a place, unlike other school districts including Indian Prairie, where we can weather the storm from the state," said Dave Zager, assistant superintendent for business. "At least for now."
Earlier this week the Board of Education was presented with the proposed 2010-2011 budget. Proposed is a $218.8 million operating budget, which represents a 0.64 percent increase over this year's $217.4 million operating budget.
"That's everything but the construction that's going on from the referendum we passed in 2008," Zager said.
The capital projects budget shows expenditures at $40.8 million, with the district in the third year of its facilities improvement plan. This year, the district anticipates the completing the Ann Reid Early Childhood Center, Mill Street School, Naperville North High School renovations and much of the construction at Naperville Central High School.
While state funding is expected to drop by 42 percent, or by about $10 million, services and programs will be maintained at the current level, Zager said. Helping the district maintain its condition was the teachers' contract approved in March, Zager said.
"One of the reasons we're in the place that we're at was the settlement the NEUA gave," Zager said.
The Naperville Education Unit Association, the District 203 teachers union, and the district agreed to a three-year contract that calls for no increase in base pay the first year and an estimated average annual increase in base pay of 1 percent over the life of the contract.
Staffing makes up the largest portion of the district's operating budget at 79 percent, or $172.4 million in salary and benefits. Staffing level was reduced by 6.75 full-time employees for the coming school year as a result of enrollment, Zager said.
Major expenses impacting next year's budget include the opening of the Reid Early Childhood Center, the replacement of the Student Information System software and expanding the hot lunch program from four elementary schools to all 14. The $500,000 cost of expanding the lunch program is expected to be offset by the price of student lunches.
"The amount we spend, it's a break even for us," Zager said.
The majority of the revenue in the budget comes from property taxes, which make up 86 percent of the operating budget. The tax rate is expected to increase !.7 percent, with the tax rate raised from 3.8954 to 3.9218. That means the owner of a home valued at $375,000 can expect their tax bill to the school district to increase from $4,635 to $4,714, Zager said.
The Board of Education anticipates it will adopt the 2010-2011 budget at its June 21 meeting, which is the last meeting before the new fiscal year. At its next board meeting -- 7 p.m. May 17 at the Administrative Center, 203 W. Hillside Ave. -- the board will vote to place the budget on file for public inspection and set a public hearing date.