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Board approves FY24–25 amended budget after public hearing; fund balance now near policy ceiling
Summary
After a public hearing, the Wheeling CCSD 21 board approved an amended FY24–25 budget reflecting revenue increases (interest, grants) and higher expenditures (salaries, outsourced services, technology purchases and recent land acquisition); the district fund balance now sits near the top of its 35–45% policy range.
The Wheeling CCSD 21 board held and closed a public hearing June 12 and then approved an amended FY24–25 budget that reflects administrative transfers and actual revenue and expenditure changes recorded during the fiscal year.
Superintendent Dr. Connolly and Chief Operating Officer Mike Zager presented the amendment and said it was required because actual variances exceeded 10% in some operating categories, triggering the statutory requirement to file an amendment. The board convened a public hearing and received no public comments.
What changed: Mr. Zager told the board the amended operating budget shows roughly a 3% increase in revenues—driven in part by higher-than-expected property-tax interest and a roughly $1 million uptick in federal grant dollars (title funds, IDEA and others). Expenditures increased by about 5.9% overall. Noted changes included approximately $650,000 higher salary costs (substitute staffing and grant‑funded positions), about $2 million higher purchased services (outsourced services, including NSSEO non‑tuition costs), roughly $1.3 million in increased supply/technology spending (including an early Chromebook purchase), and a $2.3 million capital outlay for recent land purchase previously approved by the board.
Fund balance and policy: After the amendments and approved transfers, the district fund balance rose to roughly 44% of operating funds—near the board policy range ceiling of 45% (policy range: 35–45%). Zager said the district is comfortable with the level and does not expect an unbalanced budget in the upcoming fiscal year.
Questions: Board members asked about federal fund “clawback” risk and whether the district could be affected. Zager said he was not concerned about clawbacks affecting the district this fiscal year and noted federal funds are a relatively small share of the budget (~10%), and that the district had already spent available federal dollars. The board voted to approve the amended budget; no public comments were received during the hearing.
Outcome: The resolution to convene the public hearing and the amended FY24–25 budget were approved by voice vote; the record shows the board proceeded with the amendment and reconvened the regular meeting to adopt the budget.
