Huntley Community School District 158 finance staff presented a first-draft FY2026 budget to the Board’s Finance Committee on April 3, showing a balanced plan with a projected operating surplus of $1,240,000 while flagging multiple state and federal uncertainties that could alter the forecast.

The draft relies primarily on local property tax revenue — including an estimated $50,000,000 in new construction that the presenter said added roughly $2 million in revenue — and a set-aside of $350 million at the state level for evidence-based funding (EBF) that the presenter expects will keep the district at Tier 2 and produce about $1,200,000 in state revenue for FY2026. The presenter said the draft includes a placeholder for a 3.5% increase for support-staff bargaining and a 7% placeholder for health-insurance cost growth.

Why it matters: the budget sets assumptions that underpin staffing, programs and capital projects. The presenter told trustees the document is an early draft that will be revised as state reimbursements and federal grant receipts are finalized; a tentative budget could be adopted in June and a final budget in September.

Key details in the draft include: the district’s revenue forecast rising about $6.5 million (4.87%), largely from property taxes (about $5.2 million) and state revenue (+$1.23 million); salary and benefits increasing about $5.9 million, including roughly $4.5 million related to nonunion salary increases; and a health-insurance placeholder that would raise benefits by about $1.4 million if medical premiums increase 7%. The presenter noted capital projects already planned for FY2026 (chiller replacement, asphalt repair, camera and carpet replacement) and said capital spending in later years may increase, in part for bus purchases and deferred-maintenance items.

Committee members pressed for clarity on enrollment assumptions and how out-year deficits might be addressed; the presenter said enrollment-driven staffing changes, attrition and a pending demographic/capacity study will inform later drafts. The presenter flagged two “material” state-level revenue risks: prorated reimbursement for transportation and private-facility placements for special education. The presenter explained that a recent state law expanding eligibility for reimbursement to cooperative programs (co-ops) could increase claims without increasing the state pot of money, which would reduce the per-district reimbursement rate if the state does not add funds.

The presenter described operational steps the district is considering to reduce contract transportation costs (hiring minivan drivers to bring more routes in-house) and said administration will return to the Board with updated drafts and charts that break down assumptions. No final board votes on the budget were taken at the committee meeting; the presenter said subsequent updates will be provided in May and June.

Ending: The committee received the draft and asked staff to continue refining assumptions as state and federal information becomes available; staff said another presentation will be scheduled before any tentative or final adoption.