The Sycamore Community Unit School District 427 Board of Education approved the district’s tentative fiscal year 2026 budget and set Sept. 23, 2025, as the date for the public hearing on the budget, the board said in a roll‑call vote.

Why it matters: The tentative budget frames the district’s spending and revenue plan for FY26 and is the first step in a process that includes a 30‑day public notice and a hearing before final adoption. Administrators and the board said the proposed budget is balanced for FY26 and is intended to support a five‑year plan to stabilize and grow the district’s fund balance.

What the board approved: The motion to adopt the tentative budget and to establish the hearing date passed on a roll call with all members voting in the affirmative. Finance staff told the board the proposed budget uses a mix of adjustments, including drawing modestly from certain funds (for example transportation) and making incremental changes with a goal of improving the district’s financial profile over time.

Context and next steps: Board members and the business services committee described an extended review process that included multiple committee meetings in May, June and a third committee meeting, designed to produce five‑year projections and to align short‑term decisions with long‑term planning. Administrators noted the district’s fiscal‑profile category will be updated with newer data later this year and said the tentative budget should help move the district’s rating in the desired direction.

Taper: The board’s action establishes the formal public‑notice process; staff said the tentative budget can still be amended before final adoption and that they expect follow‑up discussion on levy strategy and multi‑year budgeting later in the fiscal cycle.