The Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education on Sept. 9 heard a finance committee report and a detailed budget presentation from district finance staff that set the district on a path to a public hearing and adoption at the next board meeting.

"A budget is a roadmap," Fran, a staff member presenting the financial plan, told the board as she walked through revenues and expenditures. The district budget assumes a 94% tax-collection rate on the 2024 levy and models the 2025 levy using a 2.9% Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase. Fran said the county's draft agency rate reports show about $3.7 million in new property value this year — largely on Governor's Highway — which she said adds about $169,000 to the district's tax extension.

On revenue, the district budgeted $49.1 million for fiscal 2026 with local property taxes expected to make up roughly 52% of revenue, state sources 44% and federal 4%. Fran said the district remains a Tier 2 district in the state evidence-based funding model and is at about 80% of its adequacy target. Expected grant amounts cited in the presentation included about $318,000 for Title I, just under $80,000 for Title II, approximately $440,000 for early childhood programs and roughly $1.8 million in transportation reimbursements.

On the expenditure side, the district projects salaries and benefits will consume about 64% of the budget. Construction spending is projected at about $8.1 million for the year, primarily reflecting bills for the Heather Hill addition. Fran said that even after the projected construction spending the district anticipates an estimated fund balance of about $41.7 million and an operating fund balance around $40 million.

The board approved the consent agenda earlier, and later voted to approve the bills for the month in the amount of $3,821,834.25. Roll-call votes on consent items and the bills were recorded as affirmative by members present: Briggs, Russ, Hillhurst, Gilligan, Nelson, Plaestock and Lanier.

Fran asked the board to schedule a public hearing and potential adoption at the next meeting; she said the district will file the budget with the Illinois State Board of Education after adoption. Board members were told to expect a more extensive tax-levy discussion beginning in October.