Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 invites members of the community to offer comments about the proposed 2012-13 budget in person, by email or phone:

• A public hearing devoted to the budget will be held on Monday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the District 64 Educational Service Center (ESC), 164 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge.
• Public comments also will be welcomed at the regular Board of Education meeting on Monday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Franklin School, 2401 Manor Lane, Park Ridge.
• Comments and questions also can be directed to the Board of Education and District 64 Superintendent at any time via email through the District 64 website (www.d64.org) or by phone (847-318-4300).

Complete budget materials also can be viewed online via a direct link from the District’s home page, or in person at the District 64 offices and at the Park Ridge and Niles public libraries.

The Board of Education’s adoption of a final budget at the September 24 meeting caps a five-month budget process since the first draft was introduced on May 7.

According to Business Manager Becky Allard, the tentative budget features investments in student learning to fulfill referendum initiatives by focusing on District-wide education priorities and a third year of activities under its Strategic Plan, and by targeting priority capital projects, such as just-completed flooding abatement work at Carpenter School.

Overall revenues for 2012-13 are expected to be about $72.1 million and will exceed all funds expenditures of almost $70.4 million, which are a 0.6% decrease from last year’s actual expenditures.  Ms. Allard pointed out that salary increases have not yet been included in the proposed budget, pending final labor agreements.  

“The successful passage of the 2007 referendum is the primary reason that District 64 continues to hold its own during these very difficult economic times,” Ms. Allard recently reported to the Board.  “The Board and administration, however, must continually examine expenditures as District 64 looks into the future,” she added.