District 204 board adopts amended FY25 budget showing $2.9 million projected shortfall

Lyons Township High School District 204 on Monday approved an amended FY2025 budget that incorporates new capital and operating items, moves $700,000 between funds and shows a $2.9 million deficit projection.

The board voted to adopt the final amended budget after a presentation from Brian Stayshais, the district’s business official, who told trustees that insurance expenses that had been estimated at $3.5 million were reduced to about $2.5 million in the amended figures. “I am happy to say at this point that some of the expense for insurance that we were seeing has actually come down a little bit,” Stayshais said during the meeting.

The action reflects three main changes the administration recommended: additions for projects approved after the original budget totaling about $8 million, $500,000 added for student transportation and $500,000 for out‑of‑district tuition. The amendment also moves $700,000 from the operations and maintenance (O&M) fund into the education fund to pay for furniture expected for the South Campus addition. Stayshais described the transfer as a fund-to-fund reallocation, not new spending.

Why it matters: Trustees were told the transfers reflect timing and project needs as the fiscal year closes June 30 and that auditors will reconcile accruals in the fall. Stayshais said the district will provide a cash‑basis update in August and complete audited financial statements with the auditors in September.

Board members asked for more detail about the insurance trend and for the district to monitor whether current expense trends carry into FY26. One trustee said, “That’s good news on the insurance,” after Stayshais’ update. Stayshais noted the packet includes a 10‑year budget‑to‑actual history of medical insurance costs through May 2025.

Key numbers and moves: the amended budget reflects an $18.6 million transfer tied to South Campus projects (a $5.0 million transfer plus $13.6 million for summer projects) that had been handled previously in a separate hearing and reflected now in the budget document. The district projects a $2.9 million deficit in the amended budget but Stayshais said he expects the final results to be better once all revenues and unused expenses are tallied.

The motion to adopt the amended FY25 budget passed on a roll call vote; board members present voted to approve the budget. The board and staff said they plan to deliver a cash‑basis update in August and the audited results in September.

The vote concludes the district’s work closing FY25 and sets the accounting picture the administration will refine over the summer. The board asked staff to keep monitoring insurance costs, transportation and tuition outlays as planning for FY26 continues.