School District 113A's Tentative Budget Projects $2.4 Million Surplus

The Lemont-Bromberek  School District 113A Board of education last week approved a tentative budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year, projecting $26,375,515 in revenues and $23,958,415 in expenditures -- resulting in an estimated surplus of $2,417,100.

The document will be on display until a public hearing Sept. 18 to allow public comment before the board of education adopts the final draft of the budget.  

Breaking down the numbers

“This is a conservative budget that at this time is our best estimate of projected revenues and expenditures,” District 113A Business Manager Barbara Germany told Patch this week. “While the numbers continuously evolve during the school year, this document is a tool by which we abide by the constraints set within.”

While perusing the budget documents, parents and taxpayers may ask, “What has changed since last year?”

Answers to that question can be found in a Power Point presentation Germany gave at the Aug. 21 board of education meeting. According to the District 113A’s business manager’s presentation:

• General State Aid has been reduced to 89.36 percent of the total claim amount.
• Transportation revenue is projected $188,587 less than this year’s transportation claim due to audit adjustments from FY09 and FY10.
• District 113A will receive $50,000 in School Maintenance Grant revenue.
• The overall FY13 budget is 3.5 percent higher than FY12, including an increase to the bond payment requirement.
• FY13 operating fund expenditures have increased 2 percent over last year’s actual unaudited expenditures. This includes all staffing, benefits, technology and capital projects.
• Zero-based budgeting with input from all departments on anticipated needs for the year.
• Health insurance benefits are anticipated to increase 11 percent over last year’s budget and recent healthcare reform.

Germany’s presentation also includes an overview of the FY13 budget and a comparison to last year’s budget, breakdowns of district fund distributions, a comparison to last year’s district financial plan and an explanation of Board Policy 4:20, which requires District 113A to utilize the Illinois State Board of Education Financial Profile Indicators “as its guide to establishing benchmarks that will allow the district to achieve and maintain a recognized standard of financial health.”

To view the presentation, click on the PDF at the top of this story.

According to Germany, the FY13 budget meets the board’s 4:20 policy requirements, and, coupled with financial indicators, should continue to move the district from the ISBE’s financial watch list in 2009-10 to the state board’s financial recognition designation during the next fiscal year.

As its financial prospects improve, District 113A will continue to investigate the needs of all its constituents as part of a strategic planning process, Germany said.

“What we will ultimately do is dovetail the financial and strategic plans, said District 113A Superintendent Susan Birkenmaier. “We will have an opportunity to talk about our priorities and make a determination about what resources we need to support.”

In the meantime, Birkenmaier is grateful for the support of the community as the district continues to take strides to move forward financially.

 “We have a lot of volunteers -- a very active volunteer population, from the Warrior Booster Club, PTOs, Education Foundation … we have a lot of support,” Birkenmaier said.

To view the tentative budget, visit http://www.boarddocs.com/il/lbcsd/Board.nsf/Public, select "View the agenda, Aug. 21, 2012," scroll down to "New Business," and select "Consider tentative FY13 budget."