Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Finance Audit Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Northbrook SD 28 receives clean audit; board approves financial reports and budget calendar
Summary
Independent auditor gave the district a "clean, unmodified opinion." Board approved the annual finance report, financial statements, tentative FY26 budget calendar and authorized staff to prepare the tentative budget.
Avin, the district’s independent auditor, told the Northbrook SD 28 Board of Education on Jan. 28 that the auditors issued a "clean, unmodified opinion," and found no reportable issues with the district's internal controls or the way the finances are presented.
The auditor said the district's general fund — the main operating fund — had a net increase of $1,800,000 in the year under audit, leaving an ending general fund balance of $22,500,000 and a total districtwide ending fund balance of $25,100,000. "If you turn to page 1 ... you'll find our ... independent audit report in which we provide a clean, unmodified opinion," Avin said during the meeting.
The clean audit framed several routine approvals by the board. Trustees voted unanimously to approve minutes from prior meetings, adopt the consent agenda, accept the monthly financial report, approve the annual finance report presented by the independent auditor, and adopt a tentative budget calendar for fiscal year 2026. The board also passed a resolution authorizing district finance staff to prepare the FY26 tentative budget.
Board members asked no follow-up questions after the auditor's presentation. Board discussion focused on the mechanics of budget preparation and next steps; President Gallinson led votes on the motions. During the meeting, board members recorded aye votes for the approvals without any recorded no votes or abstentions.
The auditor pointed meeting participants to the financial statement notes and supporting schedules for more detail, including long-term debt and capital asset schedules, and noted that the notes begin on page 28 of the audit packet. Avin also highlighted the district's budget-to-actual comparisons, pointing trustees to the budgetary information beginning on page 80.
With the formal motions passed, the district will proceed with the tentative budget timeline and follow the school-code requirement to prepare a tentative FY26 budget for subsequent review and public hearings.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (Nov. 19 open/closed, Dec. 18 special/closed): unanimous — ayes recorded from Member Cassidy, Member Beef Tank, Member Arms, Member Silver Schack, Member Weinstock, President Gallinson. - Consent agenda: unanimous approval. - Monthly financial report (staff): unanimous approval. - Annual finance report (independent auditor): unanimous approval. - Tentative budget calendar for FY26: unanimous approval. - Resolution authorizing preparation of FY26 tentative budget: unanimous approval.
Next steps: Staff will follow the adopted tentative calendar and prepare the tentative FY26 budget for board review and public notice in accordance with applicable law.
