PART 2: Factors that Affect District 58's Spending

Why does District 58 spend less than most neighboring school districts?

There are many reasons why District 58 spends less per student than 76% of DuPage school districts. Here are a few examples:

The State passed a law in 1991 that restricted some school districts, including District 58, to issuing non-referendum debt equal to its 1991 debt level. District 58 had very little debt then; other districts had greater debt. This means that while many other school districts can borrow large sums of money without seeking voter approval, District 58 cannot. This limits its ability to fund critical, but costly, facility projects without a referendum.

Illinois’s school funding model is designed to provide schools with the funds needed for regular operations. School districts -- particularly tax-capped districts like District 58 -- rely on community support through referendums to raise funding for large capital projects.

The last time voters passed a District 58 referendum was in 1992, and this referendum supported school additions. However, the last time voters passed a referendum for district-wide facility improvements in District 58 was in 1950.

District 58’s most recent referendum attempt in 2007 failed. District 58 respects its taxpayers, and has since done its best job to provide students an excellent education while living within its means. However, the 2007 referendum’s failure had consequences, and District 58 had to make tough budget decisions. As a result, District 58 has not been able to adequately invest in its schools.

Other factors that affect District 58's spending ability include:

The State passed at least 218 unfunded mandates since 1992. This means District 58 had to find money from its existing budget to pay for 218+ new services required by law.

District 58 has 11 neighborhood elementary schools and two middle schools. In general, it is costlier to maintain several schools, rather than just a few large schools. Community surveys have shown that neighborhood schools are highly valued by District 58 residents, so the District has prioritized maintaining its existing schools.

Thank you for reading our District 58 Finance Facts series! View the full series at www.dg58.org/financefacts. Data Sources: District 58 Records, Illinois Association of School Boards, Strategic Plan Survey Icons created by Flaticon.com via: Eucalyp, Freepik, Smashicons, catkuro, juicy_fish, Flat Icons, rip, Design Circle, Prosymbols, Rashad and Aranagraphics.