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Minooka District 111 adopts FY26 budget with planned $26 million of fund transfers; fund balances remain well above policy minimums
Summary
The Minooka Community High School District 111 board adopted the districtfinal fiscal year 2026 budget, approving planned transfers totaling $26 million to the capital fund while officials said the district remains compliant with board fund-balance policy and state reporting thresholds.
The Minooka Community High School District 111 Board of Education adopted its final fiscal year 2026 budget, approving planned transfers that district staff said will move $10,000,000 from the Education Fund, $1,000,000 from the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Fund, and $15,000,000 from Working Cash into the Capital Fund to support ongoing projects. The budget passed on a board motion and roll-call vote at the regular meeting.
Board policy and state reporting requirements prompted the presentation: district staff said year-end operational fund balances remain well above the board's minimum and below a statutory excess-accumulation threshold. The district reported an overall operational fund-balance ratio of roughly 105% when bond proceeds in working cash are included and about 60% when those proceeds are excluded. Staff said the district's three-year operational fund-balance-to-expense ratio was 0.67, below the 2.5 level that would trigger a required written report to the state.
District staff presented the detailed fund projections and noted that several budget figures reflected planned transfers and bond activity. The Education Fund showed an anticipated deficit of about $9,600,000; staff reminded the board that the $10,000,000 transfer to capital is included in that figure. Debt-service costs rose by roughly $1,000,000 to reflect additional bond issues tied to capital projects. Transportation costs were expected to increase as the district takes on operations for an identified program referenced in the presentation; staff noted this is a work in progress and that the district will bill the related entity for those services. The district also budgeted for added IMRF and Social Security expenses related to staff coming on board from an identified program.
On revenue assumptions, staff reported an estimated levy increase of about 6% in Kendall and Grundy counties and about 10% in Will County tied to local development receipts. Officials said pension-related payments of $10,000,000 are now included in Education Fund revenues and expenses at the request of auditors; previously those had been shown as a wash (revenue and expense that net to zero).
The board approved the budget on a roll-call vote. Board members present voted in favor; the motion passed.
Budget action is procedural but will underpin the district's capital work and operating plans for the coming year. District staff said they will make the planned transfers during the fiscal year to reduce bond costs and to fund scheduled projects.
Additional details presented at the hearing included the district's plan to maintain fund balances in compliance with board policy after the transfers and continuing monthly public reporting of fund balances in the district's financial reports.
Speakers in the presentation and discussion included John Troy (staff member, finance) and several board members who asked clarifying questions during the public meeting. The board held no separate amended vote or amendments to the transfer amounts during the meeting.
