Board approves FY25 amended budget after capital‑driven spending increase

The Northbrook School District 28 Board of Education held a public hearing on an amended FY25 budget and approved the amendment at Tuesday’s meeting.

Jessica Donato, district finance staff, summarized changes: the district expects roughly $820,000 more in revenue than in the adopted budget — driven by finalized grants, a slight increase in property‑tax revenue and higher interest income — and about $1.9 million more in expenditures, primarily because the district accelerated architect and schematic payments and other referendum‑related capital spending. The district projects an approximately $2.5 million deficit for FY25, Donato said; the board has committed $2 million annually toward the 10‑year capital plan.

Donato noted Fund 60 (capital fund) has no direct revenue stream and is financed by transfers from operations and education funds. The amendment also updates grant line items now that state and federal awards were finalized. The board heard the required public notice and recorded a unanimous roll‑call vote to close the hearing and adopt the amendment.

Board members asked whether construction timing had been accelerated to avoid tariff or cost increases; Donato said the successful referendum accelerated a previously 10‑year capital plan to a three‑year timeline. The board directed staff to provide running reconciliation summaries of referendum‑related spending and to present pay applications and running totals at future meetings so members can track capital expenditures against projections.

The amendment satisfies legal posting requirements and is part of the district’s continuing oversight of costs tied to the referendum projects.