Bethalto CUSD 8 board approves 2025–26 budget after budget presentation citing 205 days cash on hand

The Bethalto Community Unit School District 8 Board of Education on Tuesday approved the district27s 2025–26 budget after a detailed presentation from district staff and unanimous roll-call votes.

District presenter Chris Chopper opened a slide presentation and emphasized fiscal stability, saying the district now has "over 205 days cash on hand," a marked increase from about 26 days a decade earlier. He identified personnel costs as the dominant expense, projecting nearly $19.5 million in salaries and about $2.22 million in benefits across district funds and noting personnel accounts for roughly 71% of the coming year27s budget.

Chopper reviewed the district27s four operating funds the state monitors (education, operations & maintenance, transportation and working cash), detailed capital spending and said bond proceeds of roughly $1.15 million funded much of the five-year plan this year; he estimated Parkside project bills are nearly paid with around $60,000 remaining. He also said the district will continue some programs that had been funded through federal ESSER dollars.

The presenter flagged state transportation reimbursement as a continuing shortfall. "The state claims they reimburse 80 cents on the dollar," he said, then explained the fine print reduces that share and estimated the effective reimbursement at about 70 cents. He added, "I'm kind of calling them out on their lie," expressing frustration that the published 80% figure does not reflect the district27s net reimbursement.

Board discussion included grant strategies and matching state maintenance grants; trustees explored options such as hiring third-party grant writers to compete for federal grants like the COPS program and using matching grants for maintenance work.

Votes at a glance - Approval of August 28 meeting minutes: unanimous roll-call approval. - Motion to pay the bills: unanimous approval. - Adoption of the Community Unit School District No. 8 2025–26 budget: unanimous roll-call approval (Kirby, Richard, Zimmerman, Potter, Roie, Miser voted yes). - Institute Day agenda for Oct. 10: approved unanimously. - Foreign language student trip to the Alps and Mediterranean (June 22–July 2, 2026): approved unanimously. - Updated parent/student handbooks (first motion): approved unanimously. - Agreement for separation from employment (middle school teacher): approved unanimously. - First reading of numerous board policies: motion approved by roll call.

Chopper said the budget projects a modest increase in ending fund balances if revenue and expenses track as presented and emphasized continuing to look for non‑tax revenues (grants, facility rentals, energy savings such as a possible solar project) to reduce reliance on the local residential tax base.

The board27s approval clears the way for the district to implement the FY26 spending plan and to continue the procurement and contract steps described in the presentation. The meeting proceeded to other business following the vote.