The District 153 school board approved a balanced 2018 budget of $22.26 million because of an additional $640,000 raised in the 2016 referendum. Revenues, expected at $21.62 million, cannot meet all the expenses despite the administration’s best attempts at holding the line on costs. The board unanimously approved the budget at its Sept. 18 meeting. Taxpayers cover 64 percent of the budget, 4 percent is from federal grants and 32 percent comes from the state of Illinois through General Student Aid (GSA) and grants for categoricals, such as special education costs and transportation . . .