Plainfield School District's Budget Revenues Top Expenses Again

Submitted by Plainfield School District 202

District 202’s operating revenues should exceed operating expenses by about $3 million at the end of the fiscal year, if the district’s 2015-16 operating budget holds true and the state meets its funding obligations.

The Board of Education on Sept. 28 approved the district’s 2015-16 budget following a public hearing held earlier in the evening. The proposed budget was also on public display for 30 days as required by law.

“Our finances look good, if not spectacular, assuming that the state does what it is supposed to do,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lane Abrell. “We have worked hard and sacrificed as a district, as taxpayers, families and employees to protect our community’s resources and still give our students a solid, comprehensive educational program and the support they need to achieve in and out of the classroom.”

BUDGET DETAILS

2015-16 will be the third straight year that District 202 has been able to keep operating expenses lower than operating revenues.

District officials expect to receive $253.1 million in operating fund revenues, up about $5.1 million or about 2 percent over the 2014-15 (unaudited) budget, which showed $248 million in revenues.

The newly-approved budget also shows $250 million in operating expenses. That’s up about $6.4 million or about 2.6 percent over the 2014-15 (unaudited) budget, which included about $243.6 million in expenses.

The new 2015-16 budget essentially maintains staffing, service and building budgets at current levels. It does not include funding for any major new initiatives, programs or capital expenses.

Salaries are expected to increase by 2.7 percent to 4.9 for teachers and 2.5 percent for administration and non-union support staff.

Contract negotiations continue with the Plainfield Association of Support Staff (PASS). However, the proposed budget includes sufficient funds for an expected salary increase for employees covered by the PASS agreement.

The new budget also includes a $1 million contingency for building-specific enrollment changes and special education needs. It also reflects a 7.5 percent increase in health care costs.

BUDGET CHALLENGES

District officials are again “prorating” state funding at 85 percent of reimbursable expenses as they did last year to hedge against the state cutting funding as it has done several times since the recession started in 2008.

“Prorating” is the practice of budgeting general state aid at less than what the state actually owes local school districts or even what is telling districts to expect just in case the state once again reduces funding. The state is projecting that it will fund general state aid at about 92 percent of reimbursable expenses.

District 202 endured four years of fiscal austerity and significant budget cuts made to counter the ongoing effects of a weakened economy and 10 years of unprecedented growth.

From 2009-2012, District 202 cut about $42 million in operating expenses, mostly by eliminating about 345 full-time teaching, support staff and administrative positions.