The District 233 proposed operating budget for the 2025-26 school year shows $76.99 million in revenues and $75.36 million in expenses for Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

The school board was presented with the budget at the Aug. 19 board meeting. 

Lawrence Cook, chief school business official, said the operating budget covers education (teacher salaries and benefits), operation and maintenance, transportation and working cash accounts.

The majority of the budget, 54%, is funded by real estate taxes, expected to generate $41.60 million. Other local revenues are estimated at $4.57 million. State support for the district is provided through the Evidence Based Funding program that makes up 34% of the operating budget and is projected at $25.86 million.

The state did not continue its Property Tax Relief Grant program that benefitted schools in the South Suburbs. However, when District 233 accepted the $1.75 million in 2025, it agreed to abate $1.9 million back to taxpayers for two years. Cook said FY26 is the second year for the abatement.

The district’s largest expense is salaries and benefits at $49.67 million. The board contract with the Homewood-Flossmoor Education Organization, the teachers’ union, provides a 5.4% increase this year. 

The fund balance is expected to be $49.67 million. For years, when state funding for education was precarious and reductions were the norm, the District 233 school board made a decision to maintain a fund balance that could cover 10 months of expenses. The school board has changed the policy in 2024 to six months cash on-hand and has begun to spend down its reserves for maintenance projects. The reserve fund would now cover 7.9 months of District 233 expenses.

The board is also reviewing plans for improvements to B-Building. Classrooms are now empty as science classes moved to the new science wing this year. If the board moves forward with those $10 million plans, the reserve fund would drop to 7.1 months in reserves. 

The budget shows increases in travel/professional development; online service; and operations and maintenance projects. Cook said he’s estimated a 10% increase in utilities costs, but is watching the continued rise in electricity rates.

 The budget includes special infrastructure projects at $900,000, including new roofs over the library and G-Building, improvements to the Mall Auditorium lighting and sound systems, and to park lot. Another $674,000 is allocated to physical education, athletics, fine arts, food service and operations and maintenance equipment.

The proposed FY26 budget is available for review online at hfhighschool.org. Find the District Information tab, then department/business office. It is also available for review in the District 233 business office in the North Building. The document will be on file until the Sept. 16 board meeting.