West Aurora School District 129 is looking at an estimated $1.1 million surplus in its proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26.
The tentative budget shows operating expenditures at $221 million, an increase of $4.6 million – or 2.1% – over the 2024-25 budget. Revenue is projected at $222 million, an increase of $3.7 million – or 1.7 % – over the 2024-25 budget.
The West Aurora school board is expected to adopt the budget Sept. 15.
Expenditure assumptions for salaries in the proposed budget are at $119.8 million, an increase of $9.7 million, district officials said.
“In total salaries are increasing by 8.8%,” West Aurora School District Associate Superintendent of Operations Angie Smith told The Beacon-News.
“They vary group to group as negotiated,” she said of the amount the district pays overall for salaries. “Our largest group of teachers are up an average of 4.4%.”
The increase in money being spent for salaries includes the addition of nine full-time equivalent positions in fiscal year 2025-26, according to documents.
Salaries make up 54% of the district’s operating expenditures, officials said.
Smith noted that Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) federal funds to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have been spent. The funds were used in part for student support and improving facilities, she said.
“The most significant change from last year is that 2024-25 was the last year of ESSER funding as we finished off capital projects. Those revenues and expenses have been dropped from the 2025-26 budget,” Smith said.
While there is an estimated $1.1 million surplus in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26, the budget surplus in the previous budget was $1.9 million.
“Inflation has contributed to our expenses increasing faster than our revenues,” Smith said. “It is important to remember that the projected surplus is also our best, conservative estimate. For the last few years, we have actually added more to fund balance than originally budgeted.”
The district began the school year with $139 million in its operating fund balance – or 232 days worth of reserve funds. The district expects to end 2024-25 with $145 million in its operating fund balance – or 234 days worth of reserve funds, officials said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
