Elmhurst D-205's Projects $2.1M Over Budget So Far

Elmhurst IL

25 August, 2021

8:45 AM

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ELMHURST, IL — So far, Elmhurst School District 205 is over budget by $2.1 million with its completed projects under the $168 million bond referendum approved three years ago, the district reported Tuesday. The over-budget number increased by $100,000 over the last couple of months. According to a district report, $1.5 million of the over-budget number was because of the decision to add secure office entries at Sandburg Middle School and Fischer and Jackson elementary schools. And another $500,000 was the result of increased costs for the Emerson Elementary parking lot and drainage improvements. The completed work so far amounts to $13.6 million. That number is expected to skyrocket in the next couple of years with the replacements of Lincoln and Field elementary schools. For the work in progress, the district is $1.2 million under budget. That is $300,000 less than June. That change was blamed on an underground storage tank and contaminated soil found on the east end of the Transition Center site. In its report, the district said any over-budget amounts would ultimately be paid for with money in its bank accounts, not more borrowing. It also said the $168 million in borrowing has had little impact on property taxpayers. The original promise was that the additional taxes on a $500,000 home would not increase by more than $150 a year. Because of lower interest rates, the increase to taxes amounts to $4 for such a home, according to the district. In the latest report, Superintendent Keisha Campbell, who took the helm in July, said the projects have been well managed and that the district's financial position is strong. But she said the pandemic is having unexpected effects on construction, including shortages of materials and higher costs. During Tuesday's school board meeting, board member Athena Arvanitis urged officials to look at coming referendum projects through the "lens of cost containment." She said the district could learn from the recently completed renovation of Edison Elementary. "There is an opportunity to get feedback from Edison about what we can expect for the future," she said. Board President Kara Caforio said she liked that board members could walk through the renovated Edison and see the changes. She urged the district to hold an open house for residents to see the improvements later in the fall. "It would be nice for them to see what their tax dollars are paying for," she said.