The River Trails Elementary School District 26 board unanimously resolved Tuesday to place a referendum proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot that would partially plug a $1.8 million budget deficit.
The district will ask taxpayers for a 50-cent increase in the education fund. The change would not affect the overall tax rate because a 50-cent decrease would be sought from the bond and interest fund, said Supt. Shirley Smalley.
If the additional tax is approved, the district’s annual budget would increase from $19,803,123–the 1998-99 budget that also was passed Tuesday–to $21,648,355.
Without the increase, district officials have warned they might cut programs and staff to reduce the budget by about $1 million for the 1999-2000 and the 2000-01 school years.
Extended-day kindergarten, gifted and hot lunch programs, and some music and foreign language classes might be cut, officials have said.
