Oak Park–River Forest committee reviews levy scenarios after FY26 budget updates

The Oak Park–River Forest School District 200 Community Finance Committee reviewed the district's finalized fiscal year 2026 budget and discussed three tax‑levy scenarios — with a fourth scenario to be added to the board packet — to maintain a healthy fund balance while limiting taxpayer disruption.

The committee heard from Tony Arras and Brian (finance staff) that updated state estimates for replacement taxes and payroll reconciliations improved the district's projection since the tentative budget. The administration now projects an ending operating fund balance of about $31,500,000, roughly 33% of operating expenditures, up about one percentage point from the August tentative budget.

Committee members then examined three levy scenarios prepared by finance staff and discussed a fourth, hybrid option to smooth recapture of prior under‑levy amounts. Scenario 1 would levy CPI plus new property each year (estimated 3.48% in 2025) and requires about $1.2 million of expenditure or transfer reductions beginning in fiscal 2027 (about $18.5 million over four years) to hold the fund‑balance ratio at or above 33%. Scenario 2 would pursue a larger immediate…