Naperville CUSD 203 puts FY26 tentative budget on public display; board hears overview from CFO

Naperville Community Unit School District 203 on May 5 voted unanimously to put its tentative fiscal-year 2026 budget on public display and set a subsequent public hearing, starting the formal budget review process before final adoption.

CFO Mike Francis presented the tentative budget and called it the start of an extended review process that includes the Citizen Finance Advisors and additional board workshops. Francis said the district projects total revenue of $355,500,000 for FY26, driven primarily by property taxes, and total expenditures of about $379,500,000. He said the district currently projects spending roughly $24,000,000 more than revenue next year, but added nearly $21,000,000 of that gap is the planned spend‑down in the Capital Projects Fund for previously approved construction projects (Steeple Run addition, Ranch View addition, work at Naperville North and related capital projects).

Francis outlined key budget elements included in the tentative figures: staffing changes presented in March (including an allocation plan for K–12 and special education), two additional full‑time equivalent positions in buildings and grounds, salary adjustments to seven positions, stipends for support staff mentoring, a leadership academy, a new K–12 literacy curriculum rolled out over three years (with the majority of those costs budgeted in FY26), and a flag‑football stipend. He also noted revenue outlooks: an estimated $11.3 million increase from property taxes tied to final tax calculations, an anticipated decline in corporate personal property replacement tax (CPPRT) distributions (projected down about 20%), and higher short‑term investment income compared with recent years. Francis said district staff are reviewing updated Medicaid reimbursement guidance and may adjust final federal revenue estimates for the adopted budget.

The board voted to place the tentative budget on display and schedule the public hearing; the administration recommended placing the budget on display May 9 and holding the public hearing on June 16. Francis reminded the board that by statute the district must adopt its budget by Sept. 30. Trustees asked that budget questions sent in advance be posted in BoardDocs and answered in writing ahead of future budget workshops.

The budget process continues with a Citizen Finance Advisors meeting May 14 and additional board budget workshops in May and June; final board action is expected at the June meeting cycle before the statutory September deadline.