Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Federal Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District 186 outlines state, federal funding cuts and posts $178 million in combined cash and investments
Summary
Mr. Miller presented the May 2025 monthly business report and said the district had a combined cash balance of about $60.3 million in the bank for all funds and total investments of roughly $117.7 million, producing a total cash-and-investment position near $178 million as of May 31, 2025.
District 186 business staff reported to the Board of Education that several state and federal funding items will affect next year's budget and that the district's cash and investment position remains substantial but constrained by restricted funds.
Mr. Miller presented the May 2025 monthly business report and said the district had a combined cash balance of about $60.3 million in the bank for all funds and total investments of roughly $117.7 million, producing a total cash-and-investment position near $178 million as of May 31, 2025. Operating-fund cash (Ed Fund, O&M, transportation and working cash) was reported at about $31.4 million.
On state funding, staff said Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) will be held steady for the next school year and that District 186 is a tier-2 district at roughly 79% adequacy. Staff also reported the state's mandated categoricals (reimbursement for transportation) are expected to be prorated further: regular-education busing reimbursement is projected at about 73% of claimed costs (down from 78.9% last year) and special-education busing reimbursement around 61% (down from about 68.9% last year). Staff explained the reimbursement rules require the district to claim 80% of eligible expenses before proration applies, which then reduces the actual payment the district receives.
On federal grants, district staff said a June memo from the Illinois State Board of Education indicated Title II, Part A federal allocations may be reduced to $0 in the current appropriations scenario. Staff said Title II historically averages roughly $677,000 for the district and supports professional development, mentor salaries and recruitment, and that the district will absorb affected personnel costs into the Ed fund if the grant is not funded.
Board members and staff discussed implications for bargaining, programming and how restricted revenue streams (such as sales-tax proceeds dedicated to facilities) cannot be used to replace operating revenues.
Mr. Miller also presented high-level operating results for May: Ed Fund revenues for the month and year-to-date and a goal to keep end-of-year expenditures near 95% of budgeted spend; he said year-to-date interest earnings were about $1.7 million and that the district received approximately $1.1 million in county sales tax proceeds for the February collection period.
