Here’s what’s happening at District 205
By Chris Fox
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board held a regular meeting on Sept. 25 at the District 205 Center, 162 S. York St. Board member John McDonough was absent from the meeting.
Hearing held, 2018-19 FY budget adopted
A brief public hearing regarding the district’s 2018-19 annual budget took place immediately before the regular meeting. Christopher Whelton, the district’s assistant superintendent for finance and operations, gave a brief overview during the public hearing. Whelton noted that the board approved the tentative budget for 2018-19 during its Aug. 14 meeting. The board is legally required to hold a public hearing before approving the budget, which had to be adopted by Sept. 30. Whelton said that the district’s budget figures had been updated since the board approved the tentative budget in August. Whelton noted that the district receives 89 percent of its operating revenues from local sources. Most of that revenue comes from property taxes.
Reiterating what he stated in the Aug. 14 meeting, Whelton stated that a change in federal law enticed several taxpayers to pay their property taxes in December of last year. That led to increased revenue for the district, about $5.4 million, according to Whelton, in its last fiscal year, and a commensurate decrease in revenues for the upcoming fiscal year.
Whelton added that about 77 percent of the district’s operating expenditures are directed toward salaries and benefits. According to information provided by the district, the district’s current total enrollment stands at about 8,500 students and a staff of about 1,135. Nearly 700 of the district’s staff members are certified.
The 2018-19 budget indicates total revenues of about $138.8 million and total expenditures of about $140.6 million, for a total net loss of about $1.85 million. The district will reportedly end the 2018-19 fiscal year with a total fund balance of over $65 million.
Board member Chris Blum stated that he did not view the 2018-19 fiscal year as indicating a deficit because of the change in federal law that led to increased property tax payments in the previous fiscal year.
There were no public comments during the budget hearing. The meeting was then adjourned, and the board began its regular meeting. There were no public comments during the regular hearing.
The board unanimously approved a resolution adopting the district’s 2018-19 fiscal year budget during the regular meeting.
$1 million transferred to cover technology leases
The board also unanimously approved a resolution to transfer about $1 million from the district’s education fund to its debt service fund for the purpose of payment of technology leases. Superintendent David Moyer noted that the board approves a similar resolution each year on the advice of the district’s auditors.
Donation to Bryan will replace auditorium speakers
Board members also voted unanimously during the meeting to approve the acceptance of a donation of about $1,700 from the Bryan Middle School PTA. The donation will be used to replace the speakers in the school’s auditorium. The auditorium’s main speakers are over 25 years old and no longer work properly.
The board will hold its next regular meeting on Oct. 9.
