D204 Financial Situation Hovering Close to the Brink
The high school district is just barely staying under budget and is in danger of falling into the red, officials are now acknowledging.
Lyons Township High School District 204 is just barely breaking even on its finances, district officials are acknowledging, with a $100,000 surplus on a $68 million budget for the 2012-2013 school year, The Doings La Grange reports.
The officials told the paper there were several reasons that the district was being forced to play so close to the edge: rises in benefit and special-education costs, tax caps limiting revenue, growing health-care costs and claims and the possibility of the Illinois General Assembly shifting expenses from the beleaguered state coffers upon local municipalities.
The district approved its budget for the 2012-2013 year last week.
Read the full story here at the Doings website.
Mouse
12:12 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Maybe if 204 didn't spend like a bunch of drunken sailors on shore leave this wouldn't be happening. It is about time for some fiscal responsibility...just look at all the money they waste on non-educational expenses every year.
Joseph R. Martan
10:53 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Mouse makes a good point. According to other articles on this subject, the biggest rise in expenses in projected budgests is BENEFITS! The teacher's union may fight, bite and scream but the rise in benefits has to stop and even be retrenched...we in private industry have had to endure cutbacks for a number of years. Considering the faculty are some of the best paid in the entire state it is NOT unreasonable to expect some economies of scales and requiring individuals to assume more responsibility. Health insurance premiums would be a start.