Jacksonville SD 117 CFO presents FY26 budget projecting $7.1 million operating deficit

Chief Financial Officer Rick Cunningham presented Jacksonville School District #117's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a public hearing on Sept. 17, outlining projected operating revenues of $44,590,891 and operating expenditures of $51,720,198, a gap of $7,129,307. The presentation included line-item projections for the district's major funds and did not prompt questions from the board during the hearing.

Cunningham's document broke the budget into several funds. The Education Fund shows an unaudited beginning balance of $31,407,621, projected revenues of $37,298,582 and projected expenditures of $43,621,709, producing a projected deficit of $6,323,127 and an ending balance of $25,084,494. The Debt Service Fund is projected to run a $2,914,051 deficit (revenues $3,427,193; expenditures $6,341,244), and the Capital Projects Fund lists projected revenues of $12,130,000 against proposed expenditures of $15,000,000 (a $2,870,000 deficit). Other funds shown in the district's table include Operations & Maintenance, Transportation, IMRF/Social Security, Working Cash, Tort, and Fire Prevention & Safety with their respective projections included in the district materials.

The public hearing record indicates the board and staff present (President Beard; board members Leonard, Lonergan, Pool, Stewart, Trace and Wilson; Superintendent Steve Ptacek; Assistant Superintendent Matt Moore; Director of Curriculum and Instruction Kelly Zoellner; Director of Human Resources Tami Stice; Special Services Director Barbie Davidsmeyer; Recording Secretary Jenn Lacey) and notes that President Beard closed the hearing at 6:01 p.m. The hearing record does not show any motions or votes taken at that time.