The Examiner U-46 News FeedDistrict U-46 Board approves latest budget By Seth Hancock
Without debate, the Board of Education in School District U-46 unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2021 budget which increases spending by $6.2 million and revenue by $6.4 million at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 28 which was held virtually due to COVID-19 regulations.
Expenditures will rise from $594.3 million to $599.5 million and revenue from $596 million to $602.4 million. The trend of spending increases along with enrollment declines continues as U-46 expects a loss of 483 students, from 37,886 students to 37,403, which would make this the sixth straight year with a loss in enrollment.
That trend is expected to continue in the budget projections which shows spending will increase by nearly $200 million, $430 million to $624 million (45.1 percent), from 2012 to 2024 if the projections are realized. Enrollment will have dropped by 5,435 students, 40,687 to 35,252 (13.4 percent), under the projections.
The district again plans to seek the largest property tax increase allowed under the law with revenue proposed to rise from $306.9 million to $319.1 million, a 4 percent increase. U-46 plans to seek an average of $8 million additionally a year from property taxpayers reaching $339 million by 2024.
Salary and benefits are set to rise 4 percent from $404 million to $420 million. Total staff has increased from 4,242 to 4,954 from 2016. Average salary and benefits for district staff will be $84,780.
This year’s approved budget represents an increase in spending of 5.2 percent and will take 6.4 percent more from federal down to local taxpayers.
Dale Burnidge, director of financial operations, called it “pretty much flat with the previous year” when presented in August, and board members Sue Kerr and Melissa Owens thanked the administration for the “flat” budget. No other board discussion occurred.
“I just wanted to thank the team for coming up with a budget that is holding the line from last year,” Owens said.
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