TOP 25 LARGEST SURPLUS- AND DEFICIT-SPENDING ILLINOIS SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN 2016
In FY15, school districts issued $307.2 million in new debt in their operating funds, a decrease of $49.3 million from $356.5 million in FY14. While that’s almost a 14 percent drop over the year, the board of education says the majority of districts continue to rely on borrowing to generate cash flow.
Based on revenue and expenditure projections submitted by school districts for their FY16 budgets, the number of districts operating with deficits will increase slightly to 499 (58.6 percent) from 490 (57.2 percent) in FY15, according to the board’s recently released School District Financial Profile Scores report. Deficit spending is calculated by analyzing a district’s four main operational funds: educational, operation and maintenance, student transportation and working cash.
Following are the 25 largest surplus- and deficit-spending school districts in FY16. The number of schools and students enrolled in each district as well as the operating expense per pupil (OEPP) are from Illinois Report Card. Cash reserves figures are from districts’ 2015 annual financial reports and show the total amount in unreserved funds as of June 30, 2015.
Top 25 districts with largest projected surplus spending in FY16
25. Joliet PSD 86
- Projected surplus spending: $2.07 million
- Schools: 19
- Enrollment: 11,781
- OEPP: $10,254
- Cash reserves: $55.05 million
24. Skokie SD 69
- Projected surplus spending: $2.10 million
- Schools: 3
- Enrollment: 1,780
- OEPP: $11,763
- Cash reserves: $32.71 million
23. Barrington CUSD 220
- Projected surplus spending: $2.10 million
- Schools: 11
- Enrollment: 8,910
- OEPP: $16,178
- Cash reserves: $48.17 million
22. Evergreen Park CHSD 231
- Projected surplus spending: $2.51 million
- Schools: 1
- Enrollment: 856
- OEPP: $17,063
- Cash reserves: $17.08 million
21. Belleville Twp HSD 201
- Projected surplus spending: $2.55 million
- Schools: 2
- Enrollment: 4,827
- OEPP: $11,574
- Cash reserves: $2.34 million
20. CHSD 99 | Downers Grove
- Projected surplus spending: $2.64 million
- Schools: 2
- Enrollment: 5,015
- OEPP: $16,314
- Cash reserves: $2.15 million
19. Glenbard Twp HSD 87 | Glen Ellyn
- Projected surplus spending: $2.78 million
- Schools: 4
- Enrollment: 8,288
- OEPP: $15,414
- Cash reserves: $87.61 million
18. Bluford Unit School District 318
- Projected surplus spending: $2.79 million
- Schools: n/a
- Enrollment: n/a
- OEPP: n/a
- Cash reserves: n/a
17. East St. Louis SD 189
- Projected surplus spending: $2.80 million
- Schools: 10
- Enrollment: 6,116
- OEPP: $13,198
- Cash reserves: $36.13 million
16. New Lenox SD 122
- Projected surplus spending: $2.91 million
- Schools: 11
- Enrollment: 5,357
- OEPP: $10,257
- Cash reserves: $27.13 million
15. Glen Ellyn SD 41
- Projected surplus spending: $2.94 million
- Schools: 5
- Enrollment: 3,451
- OEPP: $12,929
- Cash reserves: $13.05 million
14. Crystal Lake CCSD 47
- Projected surplus spending: $3.12 million
- Schools: 12
- Enrollment: 7,765
- OEPP: $10,267
- Cash reserves: $43.54 million
13. Reed Custer CUSD 255U | Braidwood
- Projected surplus spending: $3.19 million
- Schools: 4
- Enrollment: 1,631
- OEPP: $13,262
- Cash reserves: $20.65 million
12. Park Ridge CCSD 64
- Projected surplus spending: $3.25 million
- Schools: 8
- Enrollment: 4,555
- OEPP: $15,152
- Cash reserves: $56.89 million
11. Channahon SD 17
- Projected surplus spending: $3.35 million
- Schools: 4
- Enrollment: 1,285
- OEPP: $9,910
- Cash reserves: $34.58 million
10. Valley View CUSD 365U | Romeoville
- Projected surplus spending: $3.35 million
- Schools: 19
- Enrollment: 17,318
- OEPP: $12,028
- Cash reserves: $70.96 million
9. Plainfield SD 202
- Projected surplus spending: $3.41 million
- Schools: 28
- Enrollment: 28,116
- OEPP: $9,344
- Cash reserves: $72.90 million
8. Adlai E. Stevenson HSD 125 | Lincolnshire
- Projected surplus spending: $3.60 million
- Schools: 1
- Enrollment: 3,906
- OEPP: $18,778
- Cash reserves: $123.96 million
7. Twp HSD 113 | Highland Park
- Projected surplus spending: $4.05 million
- Schools: 2
- Enrollment: 3,683
- OEPP: $24,848
- Cash reserves: $100.20 million
6. Oswego CUSD 308
- Projected surplus spending: $4.57 million
- Schools: 21
- Enrollment: 17,911
- OEPP: $9,192
- Cash reserves: $53.98 million
5. Naperville CUSD 203
- Projected surplus spending: $5.20 million
- Schools: 21
- Enrollment: 16,917
- OEPP: $14,175
- Cash reserves: $154.82 million
4. Urbana SD 116
- Projected surplus spending: $6.04 million
- Schools: 8
- Enrollment: 4,418
- OEPP: $13,512
- Cash reserves: $18.35 million
3. Township HSD 214 | Arlington Heights
- Projected surplus spending: $7.86 million
- Schools: 6
- Enrollment: 11,974
- OEPP: $19,734
- Cash reserves: $159.34 million
2. CUSD 300 | Algonquin
- Projected surplus spending: $10.23 million
- Schools: 25
- Enrollment: 20,862
- OEPP: $10,128
- Cash reserves: $90.35 million
1. Niles Twp CHSD 219 | Skokie
- Projected surplus spending: $10.43 million
- Schools: 2
- Enrollment: 4,752
- OEPP: $22,340
- Cash reserves: $183.68 million
Top 25 districts with largest projected deficit spending in FY16
25. Kankakee SD 111
- Projected deficit spending: $3.52 million
- Schools: 11
- Enrollment: 5,470
- OEPP: $12,200
- Cash reserves: $11.48 million
24. Bloom Twp HSD 206 | Chicago Heights
- Projected deficit spending: $3.54 million
- Schools: 2
- Enrollment: 3,245
- OEPP: $15,200
- Cash reserves: $17.42 million
23. Peotone CUSD 207U
- Projected deficit spending: $3.65 million
- Schools: 4
- Enrollment: 1,606
- OEPP: $10,929
- Cash reserves: $9.27 million
22. Lincolnwood SD 74
- Projected deficit spending: $3.70 million
- Schools: 3
- Enrollment: 1,240
- OEPP: $16,651
- Cash reserves: $26.81 million
21. Chicago Heights SD 170
- Projected deficit spending: $3.75 million
- Schools: 9
- Enrollment: 3,323
- OEPP: $13,361
- Cash reserves: $23.41 million
20. Hawthorn CCSD 73 | Vernon Hills
- Projected deficit spending: $3.84 million
- Schools: 7
- Enrollment: 4,083
- OEPP: $13,157
- Cash reserves: $41.64 million
19. Edwardsville CUSD 7
- Projected deficit spending: $3.88 million
- Schools: 13
- Enrollment: 7,551
- OEPP: $9,064
- Cash reserves: $1.30 million
18. Leyden CHSD 212 | Franklin Park
- Projected deficit spending: $3.89 million
- Schools: 2
- Enrollment: 3,423
- OEPP: $18,339
- Cash reserves: $102.47 million
17. Galesburg CUSD 205
- Projected deficit spending: $3.96 million
- Schools: 8
- Enrollment: 4,573
- OEPP: $8,621
- Cash reserves: $16.87 million
16. Reavis Twp HSD 220 | Burbank
- Projected deficit spending: $4.22 million
- Schools: 1
- Enrollment: 1,866
- OEPP: $16,542
- Cash reserves: $11.76 million
15. Comm Cons SD 59 | Arlington Heights
- Projected deficit spending: $4.42 million
- Schools: 14
- Enrollment: 7,010
- OEPP: $15,036
- Cash reserves: $134.05 million
14. Bremen CHSD 228 | Midlothian
- Projected deficit spending: $4.66 million
- Schools: 4
- Enrollment: 5,196
- OEPP: $14,622
- Cash reserves: $58.59 million
13. Calumet City SD 155
- Projected deficit spending: $4.66 million
- Schools: 3
- Enrollment: 1,219
- OEPP: $14,062
- Cash reserves: $9.20 million
12. CHSD 218 | Oak Lawn
- Projected deficit spending: $5.12 million
- Schools: 3
- Enrollment: 5,508
- OEPP: $18,008
- Cash reserves: $75.78 million
11. Lincoln Way CHSD 210 | New Lenox
- Projected deficit spending: $5.24 million
- Schools: 4
- Enrollment: 7,126
- OEPP: $13,225
- Cash reserves: $540,868
10. Oak Park ESD 97
- Projected deficit spending: $5.57 million
- Schools: 10
- Enrollment: 5,950
- OEPP: $12,963
- Cash reserves: $29.87 million
9. Oak Park-River Forest SD 200
- Projected deficit spending: $6.51 million
- Schools: 1
- Enrollment: 3,294
- OEPP: $20,838
- Cash reserves: $98.62 million
8. Morton CUSD 709
- Projected deficit spending: $6.62 million
- Schools: 6
- Enrollment: 2,911
- OEPP: $9,881
- Cash reserves: $31.25 million
7. Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96
- Projected deficit spending: $7.01 million
- Schools: 7
- Enrollment: 3,140
- OEPP: $14,176
- Cash reserves: $94.11 million
6. Peoria SD 150
- Projected deficit spending: $7.81 million
- Schools: 24
- Enrollment: 13,675
- OEPP: $13,662
- Cash reserves: $47.26 million
5. Thornton Twp HSD 205 | South Holland
- Projected deficit spending: $8.19 million
- Schools: 3
- Enrollment: 5,079
- OEPP: $19,584
- Cash reserves: $38.72 million
4. Cicero SD 99
- Projected deficit spending: $9.31 million
- Schools: 15
- Enrollment: 12,857
- OEPP: $9,506
- Cash reserves: $179.61 million
3. Maine Township HSD 207 | Park Ridge
- Projected deficit spending: $11.67 million
- Schools: 3
- Enrollment: 6,307
- OEPP: $18,722
- Cash reserves: $62.72 million
2. SD U-46 | Elgin
- Projected deficit spending: $18.33 million
- Schools: 54
- Enrollment: 40,400
- OEPP: $10,672
- Cash reserves: $191.60 million
1. City of Chicago SD 299
- Projected deficit spending: $69.70 million
- Schools: 565
- Enrollment: 397,833
- OEPP: $15,120
- Cash reserves: $180.27 million
More from ISBE:
School districts submit a deficit reduction plan if their budgets are not balanced and they do not have an adequate fund balance to sustain the deficit. An adequate fund balance is defined as an ending fund balance that is three times the deficit amount. For example, if a district incurred a deficit of $100,000, it would be required to submit a deficit reduction plan if the ending fund balance was less than $300,000.
Of the 499 districts that project that they will incur deficits in FY 2016, 49 school districts were required to submit a deficit reduction plan. ISBE staff will continue to monitor these school districts. Staff is reviewing to ensure that all school districts required to submit a deficit reduction plan have done so. After a thorough review, staff will report districts that meet the criteria for certification in financial difficulty.
