Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Geneva City Board hears FY26 budget with $816,865 shortfall; enrollment losses cut staff units
Summary
At the Geneva City Board of Education meeting, finance staff presented a proposed FY26 budget showing an $816,865 gap, a drop of about 36.95 state units tied to lower enrollment and an increase in employee insurance and retirement costs that together reduce available revenue for staffing and programs.
Miss Kim, the district budget presenter, told the Geneva City Board of Education that the proposed FY26 expenditures exceed projected revenues by $816,865 and that the district would likely draw on fund balance to cover the gap. “Our revenues are going to be less than what our proposed expenditures are by $816,865,” she said.
Miss Kim said the majority of the budget—68.7%—is devoted to instructional services, with transportation and child nutrition accounting for roughly 9.2% and administration about 8%. She attributed the revenue decline primarily to enrollment (ADM) losses: “You will see that we lost 2.45 units. That’s directly related to our ADM numbers. You’ll see that we’re down 36.95 units,” she said, a change the district said led to the loss of teacher units and the elimination of an assistant principal position.
The presenter highlighted rising mandated costs: health insurance for employees increased about $1,248 per year (from $9,600 to $10,848 annually, as reported), and retirement rates also rose. Miss Kim said the district’s 10‑mill match increased by approximately $145,000 and that some one‑time student‑growth allocations received in prior years did not recur, further tightening the budget.
Miss Kim summarized federal program allocations, saying Title I was listed at $568,769 and that most Title I funds (96% in her presentation) would be used to support teacher salary and benefit needs. She also described the ‘Raise Act’ funds as largely a reallocation of existing pots (poverty, special education, gifted, ELL), with limited new dollars that are restricted by tiers of allowable use.
On capital and long‑term obligations, Miss Kim reported a small remaining balance on a 2010 refunding (about $15,000, due in 2028), QAD borrowing for the history building that pays out in 2029, and roughly $8.7 million outstanding on the stadium/multi projects with payoff scheduled in 2048.
Board members asked follow‑up questions on procurement and a proposed replacement of the board vehicle, including the option to transfer a larger vehicle to the district’s driver‑education program. Miss Kim emphasized that any vehicle purchase would require a future board vote and could be procured on state bid or local bid.
What’s next: the board set a final budget hearing for Sept. 11 at 7:15 p.m.; the FY26 proposal as presented would require drawing on fund balance and likely further decisions about staffing and local funding allocations before adoption.
