Coronavirus Creates $5M Hole In Proposed District Budget

PLAINFIELD, IL — In a release Tuesday, district officials said they expect budget revenues to fall short of expenses by about $5.5 million due to the effects of COVID-19 on local property taxes, according to the proposed 2020-21 budget.

The Plainfield District 202 Board of Education received the first draft of the 2020-21 budget at its Monday meeting, which will allow the schools to maintain high quality educational programs while continuing to develop and implement a responsible, sustainable financial plan, said Rick Engstrom, assistant superintendent for business and operations.

Changes may follow later this summer as the state continues to sort out funding due to COVID-19, the release stated.

The district may dip into fund balances or possibly decrease staffing costs through normal attrition to reduce or eliminate the projected operating deficit, Superintendent of Schools Lane Abrell said.

Engstrom said the proposed fiscal plan also:

• Keeps property taxes as low as possible
• Maintains "Recognition" status on the State Board of Education’s Financial Profile.

District 202 earned "Watch" status in 2012 – the lowest state ranking – but reached the highest status in 2016. It has enjoyed "Recognition" status ever since.

Projected Revenues and Expenses

District 202’s total preliminary projected 2020-21 budget including debt service and capital projects is $365.5 million, up 12.1 percent since last year. Construction of the new Wallin Oaks Elementary School accounts for $23.1 million of the increase.

Total revenues are expected to be $334.3 million in 2020-21, up 2 percent from last year, the district said.

The operating budget pays for all daily operating expenses including salaries and benefits, which comprise about 79 percent of the Operating Budget this year.

The preliminary proposed 2020-21 operating budget shows $293.3 million in anticipated operating revenues, up $6.2 million from $287.1 million last year.

The preliminary proposed 2020-21 operating budget shows $298.8 million in expected operating expenses, up $12.8 million from $286 million last year.

Salaries and benefits comprise about 79 percent of the preliminary projected 2020-21 operating expenses. Salaries and benefits are expected to total about $235.8 million, which is up about 3.6 percent over last year’s figure of $227.5 million.

The preliminary proposed figure includes:

• Three percent raises for administration and non-union support staff
• Raises averaging 2.75 percent plus a 1.5 percent increase to their base pay for Association of Plainfield Teachers members
• Raises averaging 4.75 percent for Plainfield Association of Support Staff members per the new five-year contract approved last April
• Four percent increases in benefits because of rising health care premiums
• Funding for 21 new certified staff positions
• Level school funding, and full funding for departmental initiatives
• $23.1 million for the new Wallin Oaks Elementary School
• $3.7 million for additional technology initiatives and equipment

The proposed tentative budget also includes a $1 million contingency for building-specific enrollment changes and special education needs.

According to data collected from the Illinois Report Card, District 202 continues to operate more efficiently than the state average in nearly every category.

• Instructional spending per student -- $6,455 versus the state average of $8,172
• Operational spending per student -- $10,649 versus the state average of $13,764
• Pupil to Elementary Teacher Ratio – 19 students to every teacher, compared to 18 for the state
• Pupil to High School Teacher Ratio – 23 students to every teacher versus the state average of 19 students
• Administrator to Student Ratio – 187 students to every administrator versus the state average of 173

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