Berwyn South School Board adopts FY26 budget, cites $4.9 million deficit covered by reserves

The Berwyn South School District 100 Board of Education voted to approve the district's fiscal year 2026 budget after discussing a shortfall the administration says will be covered by reserves. The board approved the measure by roll call vote; all present members voted aye and one member was absent. The budget as presented shows a $4,900,000 deficit between projected revenues and direct expenditures, but district finance staff told the board the shortfall is covered by the district's existing fund balance, producing a balanced budget under state reporting rules. Finance staff reported the district's bank balance was $59,200,000 and the overall fund balance $58,400,000. Monthly and year-to-date revenue figures presented to the board were markedly low for the time of year: month-to-date revenue reported at $1,500,000, August revenue shown as $2,800,000, and year-to-date revenue in September reported at $3,800,000. Month-to-date expenses were reported at $5,800,000 and year-to-date expenses at $9,900,000. Administrators attributed the low revenues to Cook County's delay in releasing tax bills and to state categorical funds that have been authorized but not yet released. Board and staff also reviewed capital options the finance committee discussed earlier, including a possible restructuring of existing bonds, which staff said could save roughly $300,000, and issuing life-safety bonds to fund building projects. The administration described two candidate projects and rough cost estimates: a Piper univent (HVAC) project at about $1,500,000 and a full roof replacement at Kamensky at about $1,000,000. Together, staff said, those projects would require about $2.5 million in life-safety bonding; the district must submit proposals to the state agency identified in the meeting as ISB for approval before seeking bond funding. Board members pressed for clarity on the numbers and thanked district leaders for fiscal management; staff said they are monitoring cash flow daily and that several state grant awards have been approved but funds have not yet been disbursed, preventing normal expenditure reporting. The board approved the budget item (Item D) by roll call: (Aye) Jimenez; (Aye) Steinfeld; (Aye) Trent; (Aye) Palace; (Aye) Gonzales; (Aye) Caballero. Butler was absent with notice. Motion carried. Less central to the vote but discussed at length were enrollment and grant trends: districtwide enrollment was reported down by about 108 students compared with the same time last year, and staff said the district currently relies on evidence-based funding (EBF) and a state preschool grant while other awarded grants remain unavailable for expenditure reporting because the state has not released funds. Officials said the tentative budget must be finalized by the state deadline noted during the public hearing and that further board review of bond options and the long-range facilities plan will continue in coming weeks.