Indian Prairie projects balanced five‑year budget, recommends $12 million transfer to capital for technology

Matt Ship, who presented the district’s updated financial forecast, told the Indian Prairie School District 204 Board of Education on May 5 that the business office now projects balanced budgets for the next five fiscal years while recommending a $12 million transfer from operating to the capital projects fund to support technology upgrades.

The recommendation follows final property tax extension numbers from DuPage and Will counties that increased next‑year property tax revenue by roughly $700,000 and pushed the district’s tax rate to its lowest level in about 12 years, Ship said. He told the board the district expects to end the current year with about 38.8% fund balance as a percentage of local revenue, above the district target of 25%.

Why it matters: The district’s long‑range forecast guides staffing, capital planning and bond sales that will finance the Safer Stronger 204 referendum projects. Ship said the transfer to capital would allow one‑time technology investments to be paid from capital rather than ongoing operations, producing operating savings and helping balance multi‑year projections.

Ship outlined the main drivers behind the revised forecast. He attributed the improvement to stronger new property development and rising…