Schools

Area Lawmakers Listen to D300's Long-Term Fiscal Needs

Sen. Pam Althoff, Sen. Michael Noland and Rep. Keith Farnham attended D300's annual legislative update yesterday.

Sen. Pam Althoff (R-McHenry), Sen. Michael Noland (D-Elgin) and Rep. Keith Farnham (D-IL 43rd) attended D300’s annual legislative update yesterday.

Among the topics addressed, highlights included plans for its latest wind consortium agreement with two other school districts, its recent “gold standard” school lunches and the teen peer jury.

The district, however, asked the legislators to pay special attention to a select few “hot topics” expected to impact the district in the future:

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The Capital Bill

Last month an Illinois appellate court ruled the Illinois Jobs Now! capital spending bill as unconstitutional, saying it violates the state’s “single subject rule.”

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The $31 billion bill, passed in 2009, would use revenue from the legalization of video gambling machines and higher taxes on liquor and candy to fund infrastructure projects, such as the .

But the court said the multiple funding sources violate the “single subject rule,” meaning that bill appropriating funds must be limited to one subject.

Schools across the state were to receive $1.5 billion of that funding. If the Illinois Supreme Court upholds the lower court’s decision, D300 would have to continue to put off $26.3 million of school renovations and additions. Dr. Cheryl Crates said right now there are four schools in the district that are “shovel ready”—including Neubert Elementary.

Sears Economic Development Area (Otherwise known as the Sears TIF)

Every year the Sears TIF, located within Hoffman Estates and part of D300 boundaries, is allocated several million dollars in property taxes— property taxes that would otherwise go to D300 and other public bodies.

If the legislators allow the Sears agreement to expire on schedule in 2015, D300 will take in an additional $13 million in property tax revenue. Currently D300 receives $2 million annually. School board officials encouraged the lawmakers not to extend the Sears agreement.

District officials said because of its recent budget woes, class sizes have gone up and some groups have seen a 4 percent cut in wages. Last year D300 had a $6.3 million budget deficit, and this year it is looking to trim an additional $8.3 million for the 2011-12 school year.

Dr. Crates also reminded the lawmakers that the state still owes D300 $9 million and that the district will be borrowing $19 million in tax anticipation warrants this spring, so it can make payroll.

In the Q&A session of the meeting, all of the legislators commended D300 on its progress and advancement it has made over the years.

“I don’t think we are the ones that should be followed,” said Rep. Keith Farnham, “I think that you are the example.”

Correction: In a previous version of this article, Patch wrote that teachers had taken a wage cut. In actuality, teachers' pay went up this year an average of 6 percent.  All other D300 employees took a wage decrease this year (4.1 to 4.5 percent wage decreases).


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