Board places tentative 2025–26 budget on public display after stronger-than-expected year

The Board of Education voted unanimously to place the tentative 2025–26 operating budget on public display and set a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Administrative Center in Downers Grove. Board members approved the action after district finance staff reported year-end results that improved the district’s financial position compared with projections made when last year’s budget was adopted. District finance staff told the board that revenues finished the fiscal year at about 101% of budget and expenditures at about 99%, leaving the district with an operating fund balance of roughly $9 million versus an earlier projection near $7 million. “We received 100% of our property taxes,” a staff member said, and the district offset a drop in replacement tax receipts with higher-than-expected interest earnings and some local revenue gains. The tentative budget posted for display assumes modest property tax growth of “slightly over 4%” to reflect local assessed-value growth, and projects a modest overall expenditure increase for the coming year driven largely by salary and benefit costs. Administrators noted several one-time and ongoing drivers: a roughly $1 million savings in transportation after switching some services to First Student, an unexpected $700,000 cut in replacement taxes compared with the prior year, and about $650,000 in extra interest income that helped close the gap. Board members were told the district had planned a $5 million transfer from working cash to pay for athletic field and scoreboard projects; that transfer appears in the district’s fund schedules. “Last year we thought we were in the red; we didn’t end up there,” a board member said, crediting staff work on cost containment and the transportation change. The board’s vote placed the tentative budget on display and set a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Administrative Center, 6301 Springside Ave. The administration said numbers could change between now and final adoption as state and federal funding levels become clearer; staff will return with any adjustments before the board adopts the final budget. The motion to accept the tentative budget was moved by Christopher Espinosa and seconded by Michael Riske; all five board members present voted aye.