D122 Officials Annoyed Over Delayed Tax Distribution

Michael Sass, superintendent for , vehemently expressed annoyance at the Will County Treasurer Steve Weber for delaying 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.

However, Sass asked "if there has been enough public scrutiny" over the delay in tax distribution dollars.

In a conversation with Weber, Huang said the county has a new computer program and apparently there was a problem with the verification system. The funds had been collected by the end of April. The Will County Treasurer apologized to Huang and other school districts, and reportedly said he wouldn't be using that system again.

Sass also discussed frustration with the reduced funding provided by the state. "The state is behind $1.8 million in payments to New Lenox District 122," he said. 

Those delayed payments in combination with a reduction in the formula for state funding for transportation and other funds make the act of budgeting a game based on forecasting rather than planning, he said.  

Huang later noted that seven years ago, transportation reimbursement was paid at "75 cents on the dollar, then it went down to 65 cents, and now it's at 46.5 cents."

Despite the delays from the county and the state, the district managed to paint a healthy financial picture. Admittedly, said Huang, the district is running at a $333,000 deficit, but last January, the board was hunkering down for a deficit as high as $1.5 million.

After tightening their financial belt and refinancing some bonds the district managed to achieve what Huang considers to be "good operational budget."

This is the first year in the last seven that the district has not passed a balanced budget, but it's "holding off" on projects that can legitimately be delayed, such as certain building updates. Neither classroom activities nor the curriculum have not been diminished, he stressed. 

"By looking in the classroom, you'd never know there's been cuts" in the district, added Jenny Zimmerman, communications coordinator. 

2012-2013 Budget Approved

The board of education unanimously approved the tentative $59.2 million budget for the upcoming school year, including $39.4 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 budget is available for viewing at the .