Rockford SD 205 reviews draft FY26 budget, weighs sales-tax referendum and fall working-cash bond

Doctor Brown, a district presenter, told the Rockford Public Schools Board of Education on June 4 that the fiscal year 2026 budget presented to the board is a draft and already partly out of date.

The presentation outlined revenue and expense pressures and several funding options for the district—s facilities master plan, including pursuing a county school-facility sales tax and issuing working-cash bonds later this year.

Why it matters: the draft shows the district facing a multi-million-dollar operating deficit and rising costs for employee benefits and transportation. Board members asked when the district would know whether federal Title II and other grant money will be available and how any referendum would be structured and timed.

Doctor Brown said the state reduced its planned evidence-based funding by $43,000,000 and that the district is conservatively assuming a $10,000,000 increase in tier funding for FY26. At the federal level, he said a continuing resolution…