As District 186 works to finalize a budget for fiscal year 24, the loss of pandemic-era ESSER funds and a projected decline in corporate personal property replacement tax funding will leave the district to figure out how to handle the shortfall. Director of Business, Finance and Operations Steve Miller, at Tuesday’s board meeting, said the loss of pandemic related ESSER funds will move some expenses back into the education fund.  For example, he said a portion of ESSER funds were being put toward teachers’ salaries to help with learning loss.

Superintendent Jennifer Gill says the new budget will be about a realignment of expenses with the loss of ESSER funds and a predicted decline in funding from CPPRT through the state.  Gill says it’s hard to predict how much CPPTR funding will be provided.  The tentative budget presented at last night’s meeting includes a $10 million dollar deficit. The board will vote on a new budget at its next meeting on September 18th.