Post by WeNeed3 on Sept 30, 2010 5:55:55 GMT -5
D204 budget full of pain, sacrifice
By Kathy Cichon kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Sep 29, 2010 11:50AM
After months of hard work, and, at times, emotional debate, board members in Indian Prairie District 204 unanimously approved the 2011 budget.
“Approving the budget is certainly a bittersweet experience. It’s nice to put it behind us, but I think the last few months have probably been the most difficult for a lot of people,” board Vice President Alka Tyle said Monday night. “Everyone has made sacrifices, but really that process has just begun. We’re approving the budget, but the sacrifices that people are making are just beginning, and it’s going to continue all through the coming year. And I sincerely appreciate the willingness of the people to share and spread the pain, and try to do more with less, so thank you very, very much.”
The board approved a $269.5 million operating budget. Salaries make up the largest expense at $181.49 million. All six funds have positive fund balances, showing a total of $9 million in surplus funds. But that assumes the state is going to make every payment, Holm said
“We’re not assuming that,” Assistant Superintendent for Business Dave Holm said. “It’s included in the budget presentation, but we’re not spending it. We are assuming we will not get that money and spending $9 million less.”
Several board members praised staff for what board member Dawn DeSart said involved “cutting deep and painfully at times and making it work to balance our budget.”
The budget does include the $21.4 million in reductions the board has discussed during the past several months, Holm said.
The district already had trimmed $9.2 million from the budget when state funding projections indicated another $12.2 million would need to be cut. The cuts were made through layoffs, increased class sizes, fee increases and reductions in program expenditures.
“This budget is equaling 100 less certified teachers for us this year and 50 less classified assistants,” board member Cathy Piehl said. “I think it’s important to point out, we’ve got a balanced budget, we got a great fund balance, we’re going to be recognized, but our staff are working with less people and our students are having larger class sizes.”
As part of the austerity process, the district laid off 150 teachers this year. Of those, 139 were eligible for recall. The district was able to rehire 92, Piehl said. Some teachers were eligible but had already found work in another district, she said.
Those who were rehired filled positions that were created when someone retired, moved or left the district.
“I think people had the perception that we simply put them back in the job they had before, when in fact in the overwhelming majority of cases, they were put into other positions,” board member Mark Metzger said. “Those positions were and still are eliminated.”
On Aug. 10 the Education, Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act was signed into law. District 204 will receive $1,936,194 in funds from the act, funds that will be used to pay for the 20.5 full-time equivalent elementary teachers, 2.1 FTE middle school teachers, 6.6 FTE high school teachers and 21.6 reading aides. The money will be reimbursed to the district on a monthly basis.
“Neither the revenue side of this or the expenditure side of this has been included in the budget presented to you tonight,” Holm told the board. “The decision was made to bring that to you as an amended budget at a later date.” Holm said.
The district is still waiting for the third quarter payment from Springfield for special education and transportation aid for fiscal year 2010. Currently due from the state is $6.3 million
“We anticipate that we will receive these monies and have been promised that we will receive these monies before December,” Holm said.
Despite the challenges, the district is projected to maintain its Aa1 rating with Moody’s and earn “recognition” status from the state for financial health, Holm said. The district is also projected to meet its fund balance to revenue ratio target of at least 25 percent, as well as its goal of maintaining its bonding capacity of more then 50 percent.
“We continue to hold a solid financial position throughout everything that we’re facing, and a lot of it has to do with that we took it seriously, dealt with it and made the adjustments we needed to make,” Holm said.
napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/schools/1783364-418/budget-district-holm-board-million.html
Moving forward, the district will continue to implement austerity plans. A financial report will be completed in next couple of months and the first forecast for fiscal year 2012 will be presented this fall.
Holm said the district will continue to monitor the state and its financial situation. With elections held in November and the legislature returning in January, that could change the outlook.
“That will tell us a lot about 2012, quite honestly,” Holm said.
napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/schools/1783364-418/budget-district-holm-board-million.html
By Kathy Cichon kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
Sep 29, 2010 11:50AM
After months of hard work, and, at times, emotional debate, board members in Indian Prairie District 204 unanimously approved the 2011 budget.
“Approving the budget is certainly a bittersweet experience. It’s nice to put it behind us, but I think the last few months have probably been the most difficult for a lot of people,” board Vice President Alka Tyle said Monday night. “Everyone has made sacrifices, but really that process has just begun. We’re approving the budget, but the sacrifices that people are making are just beginning, and it’s going to continue all through the coming year. And I sincerely appreciate the willingness of the people to share and spread the pain, and try to do more with less, so thank you very, very much.”
The board approved a $269.5 million operating budget. Salaries make up the largest expense at $181.49 million. All six funds have positive fund balances, showing a total of $9 million in surplus funds. But that assumes the state is going to make every payment, Holm said
“We’re not assuming that,” Assistant Superintendent for Business Dave Holm said. “It’s included in the budget presentation, but we’re not spending it. We are assuming we will not get that money and spending $9 million less.”
Several board members praised staff for what board member Dawn DeSart said involved “cutting deep and painfully at times and making it work to balance our budget.”
The budget does include the $21.4 million in reductions the board has discussed during the past several months, Holm said.
The district already had trimmed $9.2 million from the budget when state funding projections indicated another $12.2 million would need to be cut. The cuts were made through layoffs, increased class sizes, fee increases and reductions in program expenditures.
“This budget is equaling 100 less certified teachers for us this year and 50 less classified assistants,” board member Cathy Piehl said. “I think it’s important to point out, we’ve got a balanced budget, we got a great fund balance, we’re going to be recognized, but our staff are working with less people and our students are having larger class sizes.”
As part of the austerity process, the district laid off 150 teachers this year. Of those, 139 were eligible for recall. The district was able to rehire 92, Piehl said. Some teachers were eligible but had already found work in another district, she said.
Those who were rehired filled positions that were created when someone retired, moved or left the district.
“I think people had the perception that we simply put them back in the job they had before, when in fact in the overwhelming majority of cases, they were put into other positions,” board member Mark Metzger said. “Those positions were and still are eliminated.”
On Aug. 10 the Education, Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act was signed into law. District 204 will receive $1,936,194 in funds from the act, funds that will be used to pay for the 20.5 full-time equivalent elementary teachers, 2.1 FTE middle school teachers, 6.6 FTE high school teachers and 21.6 reading aides. The money will be reimbursed to the district on a monthly basis.
“Neither the revenue side of this or the expenditure side of this has been included in the budget presented to you tonight,” Holm told the board. “The decision was made to bring that to you as an amended budget at a later date.” Holm said.
The district is still waiting for the third quarter payment from Springfield for special education and transportation aid for fiscal year 2010. Currently due from the state is $6.3 million
“We anticipate that we will receive these monies and have been promised that we will receive these monies before December,” Holm said.
Despite the challenges, the district is projected to maintain its Aa1 rating with Moody’s and earn “recognition” status from the state for financial health, Holm said. The district is also projected to meet its fund balance to revenue ratio target of at least 25 percent, as well as its goal of maintaining its bonding capacity of more then 50 percent.
“We continue to hold a solid financial position throughout everything that we’re facing, and a lot of it has to do with that we took it seriously, dealt with it and made the adjustments we needed to make,” Holm said.
napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/schools/1783364-418/budget-district-holm-board-million.html
Moving forward, the district will continue to implement austerity plans. A financial report will be completed in next couple of months and the first forecast for fiscal year 2012 will be presented this fall.
Holm said the district will continue to monitor the state and its financial situation. With elections held in November and the legislature returning in January, that could change the outlook.
“That will tell us a lot about 2012, quite honestly,” Holm said.
napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/schools/1783364-418/budget-district-holm-board-million.html