Community Unit School District 200: Board Approves 12th Consecutive Balance Budget

Press release from the Community Unit School District 200:

Erica Loiacono

2021-09-09

At their meeting, the Board of Education approved the 2021–22 (FY22) Budget. The budget is available on the District website. Highlights of the FY22 budget include:

• The FY22 operating budget (all funds except Debt Service and Capital Projects) is $187.4 million and is balanced.
• The budget for high priority capital projects (mechanical, roofing, flooring, paving, etc.) remains at $7.2 million and represents the Board’s continued commitment to make investments in our infrastructure providing our students the best possible learning environments.
• Ensuring that all students have meaningful connections to school is a priority in District 200. Beginning this year, the District has added activity bus routes at the high school level so that all students have the opportunity to take advantage of after school opportunities.

The District continues to be a responsible steward of public tax dollars.

• At $13,407 per student (FY20), District 200’s operating expense per student has historically been below the State average and is the second lowest among our six other benchmark districts.
• The FY20 Fund Balance (savings) was 35.0%, within the range of the Board’s 25–40% fund balance policy.
• Standard & Poor’s maintained the District’s bond rating at AA+, the 2nd highest rating level possible.
• The State Board of Education continues to designate the District in the Financial Recognition category, the highest possible, for the past six years.
• The FY22 budget marks 12 consecutive years of a balanced budget.

This press release was produced by the Community Unit School District 200. The views expressed here are the author’s own.