JOLIET, Ill. ' The Joliet Township High School District 204 Board approved the district's 2025'26 tentative budget Monday after hearing a presentation about revenue assumptions, shifts in state funding and planned construction spending.

Dr. Hampton, the district's budget presenter, told the board the corporate personal property replacement tax (CPPRT) the district receives fell roughly 32 percent year over year, from about $16.3 million to $10.8 million, and cautioned that federal and state funding streams remain uncertain. Evidence-based funding adequacy for the district has declined to the low 70s percentage range, he said, and the district anticipates monitoring and possible proration of state estimates later in the fiscal year.

Hampton presented assumptions used in the tentative budget: a levy-cap (CPI) set at 3.4 percent for the current levy cycle, flat federal grant assumptions, estimated health-insurance cost increases near 6 percent and average new-construction values nearer to $38 million (compared with a one-time $215 million year in 2023). The proposed operating budget shows an overall projected surplus of about $18.4 million; line-item figures included an Education Fund near $105 million, Operations and Maintenance near $17.8 million and a Site Construction projection of about $56.2 million tied to ongoing projects.

Hampton also told the board several initiatives remain on hold because outside funding is not available, including previously discussed electric school-bus and solar programs. He described why districts typically levy the maximum allowed by statute: once a district reduces its levy below the allowable cap, the ability to recover that lost levy amount is effectively foreclosed in future years. On that point Hampton told board members, "we will monitor this very closely" as state and federal estimates become firmer.

Board members asked about reserves, rebating excess levy, and the relationship between levy decisions and evidence-based funding. Board discussion emphasized the district's position that maintaining available revenue is important while the district remains below full adequacy in the state formula.

The board voted to approve the tentative 2025'26 budget (action F); the roll call recorded the motion passing with one abstention by board member Fitzpatrick. The budget will be subject to further review and final adoption according to statutory timelines.