District 155 adopts 2025-26 budget; board approves expanded solar project and notes one-time deficit tied to capital plan

The Community High School District 155 Board of Education held a public hearing Sept. 9 and adopted the fiscal 2025-26 budget after a staff presentation that explained revenue assumptions and a projected operating deficit driven largely by one-time capital improvements. Assistant Superintendent / Chief Business Official Dr. Warner told the board the proposed budget covers the fiscal year July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and includes $131,000,000 in projected revenues and $137,000,000 in expenditures. The board approved the resolution adopting the budget by roll call following the public hearing. Warner said local property taxes account for roughly 71% of district revenues and provided the primary driver of a $4.7 million revenue increase year over year; state revenues and other local sources made up the remainder. The presentation separated operating from non‑operating costs and attributed a substantial portion of the year‑over‑year expenditure increase to planned capital outlays tied to the district strategic capital plan, including a $25 million commitment for stadium and auditorium renovations. Warner said non‑operating capital outlays and a recently expanded solar project together produced a projected deficit for 2025-26, but the district expects to recoup a portion of the solar costs through production and incentives over time. Separately, the board voted earlier in the meeting to accept an amended guaranteed energy savings proposal with Allied Facility Partners that expands rooftop solar to Cary Grove, Crystal Lake Central, Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake South; Warner reported the original rooftop system at Prairie Ridge already produced more than 63,200,000 watts and supplied about 25% of that building's usage. Under the amended agreement, Warner said the total system size would be 1,500 kilowatts on any given day and, after rebates and incentives, the project cost is a net negative $94,360 (Warner phrased this as receiving payments after incentives). He cited an estimated $4,700,000 in energy savings and operating-cost avoidance over a 25-year period. Warner explained the district will finance major work with a mix of alternate revenue bonds, interest earnings set aside from a laddered investment strategy and developer impact fees; he reported interest earnings rose from roughly $200,000 per year in 2022 to just under $4,000,000 in the most recent year and that the district expects roughly $10,000,000 of interest earnings over the next four years to help fund projects. Warner and board members emphasized compliance with fund-balance policy 04/20: the district reported an ending fund balance for August of $76,500,000 and a coverage ratio of 48%, which Warner said remains compliant with policy. During the hearing no members of the public offered comments on the proposed budget. The board adopted the resolution to approve the 2025-26 budget by roll call vote.