District 205 board members approved a tentative budget last night but it’s a little less severe than originally reported.
Finance Superintendent Jennifer Hamm previewed last month that the projected budget for FY17 would be a $1.9 million deficit, but last night after some adjustments and corrections it’s closer to $1.2 million.
The largest share of that is due to an accounting oversight.
Last year, there was a shortage of funds to in the site and construction fund to cover obligated building projects so $685,000 of General State Aid was deposited into the fund.
This year that deposit wasn’t necessary so the budget was corrected to reflect that.
Hamm also noted that $1 million of the deficit was due to scheduled salary and benefit increases for district employees.
Superintendent Ralph Grimm won’t be satisfied until the deficit has vanished but says that 205 is headed in the right direction.
“To curtail the deficit spending and to the extent we were a year ago– to be down to $1.2 million or $1.3 million, depending on where everything shakes out–the process and the payment we endured in January has apparently paid dividends for us,” Grimm said.
Members Bob Lindstrom, Wayne Statham and Amy Pickrel were unable to attend last night and so discussion items including on a district risk management plan and 2015 PARCC scores were tabled for a special meeting later this month.
