District 34 board adopts FY26 budget showing roughly $7.8 million shortfall

At its meeting, the District 34 Board of Education adopted the final fiscal year 2026 budget after the assistant superintendent of business services presented the district’s revenue and expenditure estimates. The presenter said total revenues of $108,428,411 and expenditures of $116,284,206, which the presenter described as ‘‘a deficit of $7.8 million.’’ For operating funds, the presenter described revenues of roughly $97.6 million and expenses of roughly $99.4 million, saying the operating shortfall was ‘‘about $1.7 million.’’ The presenter also referenced the district’s reserve reduction plan under a public act and reported no immediate threat of exceeding twice annual expenses. The budget was approved on a roll-call vote after the presentation. Board member Alex Kamalovich moved to approve the budget and Giulio seconded. The roll call showed all members voting in favor and the motion carried. Board members and staff did not receive public comments on the budget during the public hearing; the board heard no public testimony on the FY26 figures at the meeting. The adoption authorizes district staff to implement the FY26 appropriations as presented. The presenter said the numbers were those the board had reviewed over the prior two months and that a reserve reduction plan had been considered. No additional action items or amendments to the budget were recorded in the meeting minutes. The board will proceed with the budget adopted at the meeting; staff indicated they will continue routine financial oversight and follow the reserve reduction plan noted in the presentation.