D122 Confident in Budget Despite Delayed State Payments

The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education unanimously approved the 2012-2013 budget at the Sept. 19 meeting at Haven Administration Center.

Business Manager Harold Huang explained that despite uncertainties due to delayed state payments for mandated categorical funds, such as special education programs, transportation and more, the district is still faring well.   

The board of education gave its nod of approval for a $59.124 million budget for the upcoming school year, including $39.324 million in the education fund, $3.66 million in operations, building and maintenance, $3.7 million in transportation, $900,000 in IMRF and $122,300 in working cash.

The total amount for bond and interest was authorized at $8.346 million, $1,303 for tort liability and $3.050 million for capital projects. Among the capital projects was the $1.7 million renovation of the 8,000-square-foot basement at Oakview Elementary School. The basement was not being used; it had been disheveled over the years. Instead of wasting space, the NLSD122 board opted to have it renovated for use by the Lincoln Way Area Special Education District 843, explained Huang.

The Lincoln Way Area Special Education District has agreed to repay the NLSD122 over a 15-year period. No interest charges were added, Huang said.

What makes Huang even more positive about the district's financial status is an unexpected voucher reimbursement of about $1 million from the state.  

"That was good sign. … "A very good chance that we’ll get a fifth payment in categorical" payments from the state. But the district won't know for sure until June 2013.

Due to a snafu at the Office of Will County Treasurer Steve Weber, the figures are arbitrarily in the negative column. D122 Supt. Michael Sass was particularly perturbed about the delayed distribution of $1.4 million of 2011 tax dollars.

Usually, school districts get 49.75 percent of the collected tax dollars by the end of June. This year on June 28, the district received only 45.78 percent. The additional $1.4 million was distributed by mid-July, business manage Harold Huang said at the board's Aug. 15 meeting.

Although the delay caused some budget gaps in terms of the fiscal year, which ended June 30, it didn't seriously impact the district. 

Even in consideration of the earned interest, the district lost only $450 as a result of the delay.

In other business, the board approved the results of a necessary Life Safety Survey of the MacKay Education Center on Cedar Road at Fourth Avenue. The facility is used as a day treatment school that provides therapeutic and academic services for special education students.

Every 10 years the Illinois State Board of Education requires an architectural review of the structure. While most of the areas identified for renovation were completed over the summer, the district still has an estimated $28,530 worth of work to complete.  The district, however, believes the work can be completed for approximately $7,000 less by using their employees to repair aging fascia and more.