By: Aryan Haren, Associate Superintendent, CSBO
District 117 remains committed to sound financial management while providing exceptional resources for our learning community. For the 2026-27 school year, the adopted budget outlines $69.97 million in total revenues, supported heavily by local sources (75.2%) and state funding (23.4%). Total expenditures are projected at $70.59 million, representing a 3.6% increase in operating expenses compared to the previous year. D117 prioritizes its educators and staff, with salaries and benefits making up 57.8% of all operating expenses.
Thanks to years of careful financial management, we are able to fund important capital projects without asking taxpayers for more money. To pay for these investments, we purposely planned a $623,000 budget deficit to strategically draw from our fund balance. Because this was a calculated decision, our overall finances remain healthy. Even after making these investments, our long-term financial stability remains secure, and the district will continue to meet the Board Policy 4:20 target of maintaining operating fund balances between 45% and 65%.
In addition to our operational budget, we actively invest in the long-term infrastructure of our facilities through dedicated capital funds. Over the summer, we successfully completed two major capital projects to directly benefit our students and staff. At Lakes Community High School, we finalized an extensive roof project to ensure a warm, safe, and dry learning environment. Over the summer of 2025 and 2026, sixteen Roof Top Units (RTUs) and a roof overlay were completed for a total of approximately $6.4 million. Concurrently, Antioch Community High School saw the completion of their stadium turf replacement and track resurfacing project for a total of approximately $1.2 million, providing our student-athletes and physical education classes with premier, reliable athletic facilities for the new school year and beyond!
For more details on the fiscal year 2027 budget and other related D117 school business matters, please visit our Business Office website https://www.chsd117.org/page/business-office/.