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Crete superintendent and finance staff outline state aid drop, budget authority and managed‑print recommendation
Summary
District staff reported a $1.4 million decrease in certified state aid for next year, described impacts on budget authority and property tax options, and recommended switching managed print services to EECS with projected monthly savings.
District finance staff told the Crete Public Schools Board that certified state aid for the coming school year fell by a little over $1.4 million, which the presenter said equates to about $146,000 less per month over the typical 10 months when state aid is distributed.
The presenter said that while the district’s budget authority (the limit on how much property‑tax‑based authority it may request) increases, generating the funds to match that authority may require raising property taxes because state aid decreased. Staff asked the board to begin considering levy/authority decisions as part of the upcoming budget schedule.
On managed print services, the board heard a formal recommendation following a request for proposals. The district is currently contracted with Access Systems at roughly $4,599 per month; the presenter said that overages this last year totaled about $17,000. Staff recommended switching to EECS under a 60‑month contract with an estimated monthly cost of $3,600, lower per‑copy overage rates (color: 2.5¢, black‑and‑white: 0.25¢) and credits if printing falls below estimates. Access Systems will remove existing equipment and EECS will install new machines if the district proceeds.
Why it matters: the state aid reduction and higher budget‑authority figures affect the district’s revenue picture and may influence decisions on property tax levies, the capital project timeline and program budgets. The managed‑print recommendation could reduce monthly printing costs and overage exposure but returned to the board as information pending final contract approval.
Staff said they will bring more detailed components of the state‑aid formula and comparisons to a working meeting so the board can evaluate the causes of the change and options for the 2025–26 budget.
