D-15 Faces Mounting Budget Deficit

The District 15 school board is preparing to initiate discussions with its teacher's union as its bleak budget picture comes more into focus.

On Wednesday, Michael Adamczyk, assistant superintendent for business, presented updated budget information. The school district is on track to finish the 2010-2011 budget year with a deficit of about $4.8 million. In 2011-2012 the deficit is expected to increase to more than $5.6 million.

"Our big expenses are salary and benefits," school board President Tim Millar said. "So unless we can see some changes there, it's difficult."

Even with the deficits, District 15 would finish the 2012 budget year with more than $50 million in reserves. However, projections have the deficit continuing to grow in coming years, quickly draining reserve funds.

Most of the deficit through 2012 is associated with the district's education fund, which includes salaries and benefits for teachers. Of the $10.4 million deficit,  $6.7 million is in the education fund. Although revenue for the education fund is projected to rise by 2.39 percent in 2011-2012, expenses are expected to rise by 3.77 percent.

"It's is scary," Millar said. "These are pretty scary numbers that we are looking at."

The school board selected three representatives to begin talking to District 15's teacher's union – Scott Herr, Richard Bokor, and Millar. One central topic will be whether the current union contract can be opened up.