Homewood SD 153 adopts amended FY2025 budget; board authorizes payments, insurance renewals

The Homewood School District 153 Board of Education on June 9 adopted an amended fiscal year 2025 budget that moves bond proceeds into the life-safety fund for the Willowbrook project and reflects a property tax relief grant the district received.

At a brief public hearing before the regular meeting, Dr. Trimberger, the district’s chief school business official, told the board the district completed a life-safety bond sale and “we use are using those proceeds for the Willowbrook project so we had to move those expenses from the operations maintenance fund to the life safety fund.” He also said, “We also did receive the property tax relief grant of $1,450,000. So those increased our revenues about 3,800,000.0.”

The amended budget was presented as part of a broader set of finance items the board approved. At the meeting the board authorized payment of May and June 2025 bills in an amount not to exceed $4,707,731.39 and approved renewals of the district’s Collective Liability Insurance Cooperative (CLIC) policies, with workers’ compensation at $147,693, property and casualty at $131,131 and fiduciary liability at $2,150.

Why it matters: the bond sale and the transfer of related expenses into the life-safety fund enable the district to pay for the Willowbrook roof and other facilities work from the appropriate fund. The district’s fiscal presentation showed a combination of increased revenues and higher expenses that board staff said reflect special education costs and project timing.

Board discussion and context: during the public hearing and later during the action item, Trimberger said expenses increased “about 1,100,000 mainly due to increased special ed costs and larger than anticipated initial payment for the Willow roof.” He told the board the district is projecting a budget “just over 1,900,000.0” and that final figures remain subject to June property-tax receipts and interest payments from the Bloom Township School Treasurer’s Office.

Board members asked no substantive questions during the public hearing. When the board voted to adopt the amended budget and the accompanying resolution declaring the amended budget final for FY2025, the motion carried on a roll-call vote.

What the board approved (selected items): the amended FY2025 budget and a resolution declaring it final; authorization to pay May and June 2025 bills up to $4,707,731.39; and CLIC insurance renewals as detailed above. Those motions were made “upon the recommendation of the chief school business official” and recorded as approved by the board.

Next steps: district staff said they are preparing the initial FY2026 budget for approval early in the fall. Board members and administrators emphasized that personnel costs remain the largest budget component, but that transportation, insurance, food services and facility projects also are driving near-term spending.

Funding and limits: the board’s adoption reflects the district’s internal budget process and local controls; the meeting record shows no changes to state law or grant terms. The amended budget uses bond-sale proceeds and the $1,450,000 property tax relief grant as described by district staff.