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Grayslake CCSD 46 projects $1.6 million operating deficit for 2025–26; district expects levy funds to reverse trend
Summary
Business officials presented a preliminary 2025–26 budget showing a $1.6 million operating-fund deficit and said the district expects the revenue increase from a previously approved levy action to produce surpluses in future budgets.
The Community Consolidated School District 46 business office on Wednesday presented a preliminary budget for the 2025–26 school year showing an operating fund deficit of about $1.6 million, down from a larger deficit the prior year, and said district leaders expect levy-driven revenue and abatement actions to reverse the trend next year.
Administration said roughly 60% of the district’s expenditures are salaries and benefits and about 15% are outsourced services such as transportation, food service and custodial contracts. The business official said the district is a "people business" and that staff positions included in the preliminary budget are either filled or assigned to a TBD placeholder for recruitment.
The business official, Mister Wildman, told the board the district’s structural funding gap remains significant and referenced Illinois State Board of Education figures describing the district as about 70% funded with a longer-term funding gap of about $16 million. Wildman said the levy (limiting-rate) increase and abatement steps the board approved will deliver additional revenue next year and that this is expected to be the final year in which the district runs an operating deficit.
Board members asked about the timing and magnitude of the expected improvements. A board member said she would have difficulty approving a budget without a marked decrease in the deficit and asked what was reasonable to expect; Wildman said the levy and abatement actions will result in the additional funding appearing in the following fiscal year and that the administration structured the preliminary budget to avoid staff reductions at this time.
The board will receive the formal tentative budget in June and hold public hearings as required by statute before adopting a final budget later in the summer.
