Aurora East USD 131 adopts FY26 $263 million budget; board member Johnson votes no

Aurora East USD 131’s board of education voted on Sept. 15 to adopt the fiscal year 2026 budget, approving a $263 million spending plan that projects a modest surplus and reflects state funding changes and enrollment declines.

The budget presentation, delivered during the public hearing portion of the meeting, showed total revenues and expenditures of roughly $263 million and highlighted the education fund as the district’s largest source and expense — nearly $200 million, or about 75.7% of the total. The presentation listed district assumptions including a reduction in CPPRT (local shared taxes) that was later updated to a smaller decrease, projected interest income at roughly 4%, state categorical reductions of about 3%, and an estimated $2 million drop in federal funding. Average salary increases are budgeted at 3.75% and benefits at about 8%.

The presenter reported a projected surplus of $243,017 and a general fund balance estimated at about $175 million, but noted that bond proceeds for the career center currently sit in fund balance until project activity begins. The board discussed major upcoming capital needs, including heating and air conditioning projects; one trustee asked for more detailed projections of how large projects will move fund balance over time.

Board member questions focused on falling enrollment and state funding mechanics. A trustee asked how declining enrollment was factored into evidence-based funding. The presenter said the state’s evidence-based funding system includes a "hold harmless" mechanism that prevented a year-to-year drop in funding in this cycle, and that the district is working with a demographer, Dr. John Casarda, on an enrollment study.

Board member Johnson voted against the budget. During roll call the board recorded the following votes: Valencia, yes; Cifuentes, yes; Moreno, yes; Olivas, yes; Reyes, yes; Johnson, no; LaShea, yes; Rodriguez, yes; Sebastian, yes. Johnson told the board she believed the budget "was not properly prepared" and raised concerns about the district’s movement from tier 1 to tier 2 under Illinois evidence-based funding.

Dr. Michael Engel provided background on the district’s move in evidence-based funding tiers. He said Chicago Public Schools’ large funding needs and a regionalization adjustment called the Comparable Wage Index (CWI) — recalculated in 2024 by the University of Illinois — contributed to shifts that moved multiple districts, including some collar counties, into tier 2. Engel said adequacy measures that had been 73–78% in prior years fell to about 75.62% for FY26, and that Chicago’s funding pressures and regionalization together pushed the district into tier 2.

Trustees also discussed a state-required report on teacher and administrative salaries and benefits, which the superintendent said will be posted on the district website Oct. 1. The superintendent and staff confirmed that a state-required payback related to a transportation claim will be handled over scheduled installments; the district has budgeted an estimated $2.9 million as part of those reconciliations in the FY26 numbers.

Several other board votes were taken later in the meeting and passed by roll call without extended debate: approval of one bilingual overload and eight CTE overloads for East High School; approval of a memorandum of understanding to allow boys to play volleyball at East High; approval of the district's website host (Bridal Site); and approval of a Tomcat Navy calendar memorandum of understanding. The finance committee and other routine consent items were approved as presented.

The board adjourned after an executive session; the meeting record shows no additional budget amendments were adopted that night.