The Homewood District 153 school board amended its 2024-25 budget after a public hearing on June 9. The budget is estimated at $1.9 million.

According to Eric Trimberger, chief school business official, the administration requested to amend the budget, that covered the 2024-25 school year, in the amount of $2.78 million due to the sale of Life Safety Bonds for a new roof at Willow School being installed this summer.

The bonds will be covered from the Operations and Maintenance fund, which has an ending balance of $888,255.  

The budget is split into nine categories for District 153:

• Educational.
• Operations and Maintenance.
• Debt service.
• Transportation.
• Municipal Retirement/Social Security.
• Capital Projects.
• Working Cash.
• Tort.
• Fire Prevention and Safety.

District 153 received a property tax relief grant of $1.43 million. Expenses increased about $1.08 million due to special education costs and transportation, plus maintenance for the Willow roof and windows, and the Sports Complex floor replacement, he said. 

The educational fund cost increased from $1.1 million in 2024 to $1.2 million in 2025, according to budget records. 

“We’re projecting a budget of just over $1.9 million, and we think that will come out a bit higher at the end,” Trimberger said. 

According to Trimberger, the $1.9 million is an operating surplus that doesn’t include debt payments. The surplus comes from the property tax relief grant and the Life Safety Bonds sale, he said. 

In other business, the board approved the three-year contract extension for Kickert School Bus company. 

The extension will start out with an 8% increase for 2025-26. It will then drop to a 6% increase for 2026-27, and 5% increase for 2027-28, Trimberger said.