The proposed budget for the 2026-2027 school year was unanimously passed by the Board of Education at its September 15, 2026, meeting. Board member Vanta Bynum was absent. The final adopted budget improved from the initial estimate of a $3.5M deficit to $2.8M. The planned deficit is non-structural, resulting from construction costs to be incurred this year for the new Early Learning Development Center. The lower amount is primarily due to a decrease in benefit costs from initial estimates.
Aligning with the District’s four strategic priorities of Student Achievement, Financial Stability with an Equity Lens, Community Engagement and Marketing, and Human Capital, the annual budget serves as both a planning tool and a guide for monitoring the District’s financial activity throughout the school year. “This year’s budget includes several significant investments in the District’s facilities, most notably the construction of the new Early Learning Development Center (ELDC),” said Armir Doka, certified school business officer and director of business and finance. “It is important to note that this projected deficit is primarily attributable to these one-time capital expenditures and does not represent an ongoing operational or structural deficit. In fact, overall revenues have increased compared with the prior year, allowing the District to direct a portion of that additional revenue toward these important facility investments.”
2026-2027 Budget Summary
- Planned $2.8 million deficit to allow for FY 2026 costs associated with the construction of the new Early Learning Development Center, which is projected to open with the start of the 2028-29 school year. Financing for the new ELDC building is budgeted at $50.5 million.
- The projected deficit is not structural and allows for the District to utilize its Fund Balance to avoid incurring any additional debt throughout the construction phase.
- Includes roughly $163.5 million in revenue and $166.3M in expenditures.
- Expenditure increases
- Benefits - 6.5%, down from the initial 10% projection
- Transportation Rate – 4%
- Food Service Rate – 4.1%
- Crossing Guards Rate – 2%
- Consumer Price Index - currently at 3.4% (a measure of inflation)
2026-2027 Budget Summary - English
2026-2027 Budget Summary - Spanish
2026-2027 Budget and Tax Levy FAQs - English
2026-2027 Budget and Tax Levy FAQs - Spanish
Legal requirements for the District’s budget adoption include finalizing a budget by September 30, at which time it is submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education and filed with the county of DeKalb.
The September 15, 2026 Board Meeting is available on the District’s YouTube channel.