Evanston Township High School board adopts balanced $118.4 million FY2026 budget; issues working cash bond notice

The Evanston Township High School District 202 Board of Education on Sept. 8 approved a final fiscal year 2026 budget of $118,400,000 after a lengthy presentation by Chief Financial Officer Kendra Williams and a public budget hearing held as the board acted as its finance committee.

Williams told the board the district is presenting a balanced budget for the 19th consecutive year and that the FY2026 plan keeps cash reserves and fund balances within the district's fund-balance policy ranges. She told the board the total budget is up 4 percent from FY2025 and that the operating budget is $102,400,000, a 2.9 percent increase.

The budget presentation highlighted the district's revenue mix and key risks: property taxes remain the district's largest revenue source (about 80-84 percent of revenues), the corporate personal property replacement tax (CPPRT) has declined over recent years and remains uncertain, and federal…