Why the District can Afford a Fair and Reasonable Settlement

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Over the past 5 years the District has been taking in more money in their operating funds than they have been spending.

The operating funds are the Education Fund, The Operations and Maintenance Fund, and The Transportation Funds. The total surplus in these funds according to the District's 2007 Annual Financial Report from June 30 of 2007, the District had fund surpluses of $757,000.

The district claimed this number is inflated but their own Budget Summary Form from the 2007-08 Budget predicts a$ 797,002 surplus and the end of 2008.

Even this, however, is inaccurate. Since the district submitted their budget, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Budget implementation Bill and the District will receive $126,799 more in general State Aid than they Budgeted. They budgeted $2,925,658 but will receive $3,05,2457 . This money is not in the budget and when added to the Board's estimated fund surplus at the end of 2008 that number rises to $923,801. View a comparison of Budgeted funds and Actual State Aid

Administration has also claimed that cannot transfer monies between the operating funds. According to (105 ILCS 5/17‑2A) (from Ch. 122, par. 17‑2A State Law allowing inter fund transfers, This statement is false.

Due to surpluses, the district could easily pay for the HCEA proposal without raising taxes. In fact according to the tax levies from the past 7 years, Taxes have stayed steady or decreased over that period of time except for the Bond and Interest fund which has increased due to bonding for the new roof and air conditioners.

Additional Yearly Costs of Our Proposal: 2007-2010

Also, don't forget, that the District has paid their Attorney $162,000 since November of 2006 and the District employes more administrators than any other in the area.

Question contact questions@supporthcea.org