Four years ago, when Oak Park School District 97 was in the midst of a drive to increase its tax rate, the district was criticized by some residents because it projected flat increases in state aid.
The tax-increase referendum passed, but now the district is confronted with a $2 million reduction in state general aid, a substantial cut from the $4.5 million the elementary district received last year, said Supt. John Fagan.
To get through the coming school year the district will use its slim reserves and in the 1993-94 school year will look at staff reductions, he said.
Oak Park and other western suburbs were reassessed last year and Oak Park`s tax base increased 38 percent, Fagan said.
And because the state general aid formula is based on property tax wealth, Oak Park will receive less money because it can raise more funds locally, he said.
Fagan said his district has an annual budget of some $31 million and spends about $5,700 per student. ”We`re not extravagant,” he said.
Oak Park is not alone. Other western suburban school systems, including Bellwood School District 88 and Maywood School District 89, will receive less state aid this school year because their tax bases increased, according to state figures.
General state aid is only a portion of the assistance from the state. State categorical grants, for special education and bilingual programs, for example, are sent to districts without regard for tax base, business managers said.
In northern Cook County, where some of the wealthiest school districts are located, general state aid has been minimal.
Niles Township High School District 219, which has a rich commercial and industrial tax base, receives some $725,000 in state aid in a budget estimated to be in the low $40 million range. ”We get very little,” said business manager William Linning.
Evanston-Skokie School District 65 received some $1.6 million in general state aid last year and expects to receive approximately the same this year, said business manager Mary Metcalf.
The district`s budget for the next school year will be about the same as last year`s, some $54.5 million, she said. ”I don`t think we`re going to be hard-pressed.”
One concern she does have is the state`s tardiness in reimbursing school districts. District 65 is still awaiting some $1.2 million in various forms of state from the last school year, she said.
In addition to a district`s property tax wealth, general state aid is apportioned on the basis of enrollment and the number of children from economically disadvantaged homes, said Leon Eich, business manager of Lyons Township High School District 204. High schools also receive more money per student because of the higher expenses, he said.
