Huntley CUSD 158 approves $139.3 million FY26 budget with $590,273 surplus

The Huntley Community School District 158 Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the district's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, adopting operating revenues of $139,298,066 and operating expenses of $138,707,793 for an anticipated operating surplus of $590,273.

The budget passed after a presentation and public budget hearing in which district finance staff outlined revenue sources, expense drivers and risks. Mr. Altmyer, who presented the budget to the board, said at the hearing, “At a very high level, we're a $139,000,000 organization; we bring in approximately $139,000,000 of revenue.”

The approved plan relies primarily on local property tax revenues, which the presentation said account for about 61% of district receipts. State funding, including the Illinois evidence-based funding allocation, federal grants (including IDEA and school lunch programs) and local fees make up the remainder. The board packet shows the district anticipates a small operating surplus while trimming certain nonessential purchases and recognizing savings from staffing reconciliations.

Why it matters: trustees and administrators repeatedly flagged health insurance and a recent change in state evidence-based funding as the budget’s largest risks. District staff told the board that health-insurance claims and premiums have grown sharply in recent years and that the FY26 budget includes a planned 14% increase in health-insurance costs. Mr. Altmyer said health insurance is the district’s “biggest risk.”

During the hearing, staff outlined adjustments made between the prior draft and the final proposal to restore a balanced position. Those included about $869,000 of savings from a reconciliation of salary line items following retirements and unfilled positions, a $250,000 timing adjustment to technology inventory purchases (moving some device purchases to July 1), reductions to small building project budgets and other operating trims. The budget also includes planned capital spending for projects such as asphalt work, carpeting and a high-school chiller replacement.

Board members asked for and received clarifications about specific items. On Chromebook timing, Altmyer said delays in placing device orders “do not impact them at all. They'll still receive their new devices at the start of the school year” — the change affects when the district places purchase orders, not student device delivery. On special education staffing, the presenter and other district staff confirmed that the recent budget adjustments did not reduce special-education services; contracted services and some positions remain in place, and the district continues active recruitment to fill open roles.

State evidence-based funding moves were described as a major contributor to recent budget pressure. The presentation showed variability in the district’s extra state allocation over recent years — a peak of several million dollars followed by a substantial decrease when the district shifted tiers in the state adequacy calculation. The presenter told trustees that a switch from a higher to a lower tier in the state formula reduced the district’s state revenue and contributed to earlier deficit projections that administration addressed in the final draft.

Capital and reserves: district staff described an unrestricted operating fund balance of roughly 28–29% of operating revenues and a separately reserved “replacement” fund of about $4.1 million set aside for capital replacements. The budget packet also notes a capital projects fund that holds impact-fee revenues — roughly $1.4–1.5 million annually in recent years — that can be used for future capital work, subject to board approval.

Debt and long-term costs: the presentation said the district has roughly nine years remaining on its current debt schedule and that levy restructuring has flattened debt-service amounts through levy year 2034, a change administrators said should help stabilize the tax rate for the community.

Board action and next steps: after questions, the board voted 6-0 to approve the FY26 budget as presented. The board motion passed on a roll call vote; members voting yes were recorded as Mister Fecketty, Missus Murray, Mister Bobby, Missus Myerino, Mister Cranny and Mister Troy. Trustees were told some budget documents must be signed and filed with state authorities following the vote.

The presentation left trustees with several follow-ups: administrators will continue work with the district’s health-insurance committee and broker (Alliant) on plan options; the district will monitor evidence-based funding developments; and administrators said they will return to the board with potential cost-saving proposals and additional details about capital planning as bids and needs are refined.