District 23 outlines FY2026 budget guidelines; administration targets $500,000 operating surplus

Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Amy McPartlin presented the district's preliminary budget guidelines and assumptions for fiscal year 2026, highlighting revenue and expenditure estimates and recommended conservative budgeting steps.

McPartlin summarized baseline figures: budgeted operating fund revenues for FY25 of $28,232,439 and operating fund expenditures budgeted at $27,565,657. She told the board the Administration is "targeting an annual operating fund surplus of no less than $500,000" to rebuild fund balances through staffing prudence and a proposed 5–10% reduction in building and departmental line items. The presentation called for a Per Pupil Allocation of $170 with a 25% non‑discretionary set aside ($42.50 per pupil) for furniture replacement and a districtwide furniture replacement pool of $50,000.

On revenue assumptions, McPartlin noted the district will budget property tax receipts conservatively at 95% due to recent Cook County processing delays, described the December 2024 CPI at 2.9%, and cited the 2023 Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV) of $685,949,160. She also reviewed projected insurance and benefit pressures (an estimated 8% increase for PPO medical, dental projected at 4.1%), an expectation of flat CPPRT receipts, and continued uncertainty around federal funding. McPartlin outlined enrollment projections by grade and noted four anticipated retirements affecting staffing and a planned $80,636 estimated savings from the staffing plan approved at the February 13 board meeting.

The administration asked the board to approve the budget guidelines and assumptions to move forward with detailed budget development; board discussion and committee work will continue as more financial data become available.