Oswego School District 308 officials project a balanced budget for fiscal year 2005-06, despite an estimated $23 million increase in spending.
The district, which will open three new elementary schools in late August, proposes spending more than $93 million for day-to-day operations but expects enough revenue from a combination of property taxes, state assistance and other sources to match it.
The preliminary budget was released at Monday’s board meeting.
Along with the new schools, the district sees increased costs because of a projected 1,600 new students, the addition of a junior class at Oswego East High School, the equivalent of 168 new full-time staffers, and a 10 percent increase in employee health benefits.
“It’s a balanced budget, but it’s a razor-thin balanced budget,” said District 308 Supt. David Behlow. “We have to continue to control our expenditures.”
All told, the district plans to spend $143 million, but nearly $50 million will go for school construction already covered through bonding authority.
A public hearing and final budget approval are scheduled for September.
Also Monday, the board learned that construction of three elementary schools is essentially complete. The schools–Wolfs Crossing, Prairie Point and Churchill–are partially occupied and are scheduled to be in full operation in early August.
