Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County School Superintendents recently reached out to DuPage County Board member Tim Elliott to express concerns about how a resolution to waive property tax penalties might affect the school system.

“We applaud and appreciate the impetus behind this dialogue and we are interested in supporting the deliberations with candor, insight, and a commitment to stewardship and responsible financial practices,” a letter to Elliot says.

The April 18 letter, signed by the county’s school superintendents, lists three primary concerns:

• Cash flow and concerns of borrowing: Delayed revenue to the school system would affect cash flow at several districts, forcing them into short term borrowing to make payroll, and would mean less money for classrooms and more to go to debt service.
• Mandate for paying out salaries and benefits: School districts cannot lay off or furlough public school employees, as mandated in an executive order by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and the schools have spent more to provide food to students who request it during school days, and to shelter students who are alone and seek shelter in school buildings.
• Public schools are contending with late payments from the State of Illinois. They say that between the Illinois State Board of Education’s delay in paying, and potential delay of property tax income due to the schools, the schools will be in a tighter financial situation.  

“We humbly request that any deliberations include a thorough analysis of the systems effects of your decisions with regards to the financial health of our public-school system,” the superintendents write.

After obtaining a copy of this letter, the Edgar County Watchdogs takes issue with several points in the letter. They question how the money saved was spent, after not having extracurricular activities, supplies, mileage reimbursements and utility bills.

They also call the concern of cash flow and concerns of borrowing, particularly the statement that “the notion of removing late penalties for taxpayers is necessarily an encouragement for taxpayers to delay making expected payments." The publication calls this position disingenuous.

The Edgar County Watchdogs also notes that the county school board is not acknowledging the estimated $12,581,105 that they are expected to receive from the CARES Act.