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District 45 superintendent outlines $4.3 million referendum, warns of staff cuts if it fails
Summary
Brian Graber, superintendent of School District 45, told the Lombard Village Board the March 17 referendum would raise about $4.3 million annually and estimated the average homeowner would pay about $299 annually; he said failure could force cuts of roughly 20–25 certified staff next year and more thereafter.
Brian Graber, superintendent of School District 45, told the Village of Lombard Board of Trustees on Feb. 19 that a March 17 ballot referendum would raise roughly $4.3 million in annual revenue and help close recurring budget shortfalls.
"For the past several years, we've operated with annual budget deficits as high as 3 and a half million dollars this past year," Graber said. He described the referendum as the product of a community engagement process and characterized the question as proposing a 0.276 percentage-point increase in the district's limiting tax rate; the district estimates the change would cost the average homeowner about $299 per year (about $25 per month).
Graber said the district collected feedback from the community (the engagement process included community committee meetings, public sessions, online forms and a scientific phone survey) and that the referendum reflects those responses. He said a successful referendum would provide an additional $4,300,000 in annual revenue "and prevent us from having to implement the cost-cutting measures the community has told us they wish to avoid." If the referendum does not pass, he warned, "we will need to implement immediate cost cutting measures, beginning with a reduction of approximately 20 to 25 certified staff members for next school year and an additional 15 to 20 staff the following year, along with the elimination of specific courses, programs, and activities."
Graber said the deficits date back to at least 2015 and are attributable to rising costs (transportation, specialized instruction) combined with lower per-student revenue compared with peer districts in DuPage County. He emphasized that the district is "committed to fiscal responsibility and financial efficiencies moving forward" and said the purpose of his appearance was to inform residents about the options on the March ballot rather than to advocate a specific vote. Graber listed upcoming informational sessions, including an in-person forum at Jefferson Middle School and a virtual session next Wednesday, and pointed listeners to d45.org/referendum for details.
The board did not take any action on the referendum during the meeting; Graber's appearance was recorded as a public comment to inform voters ahead of the consolidated election.
