Essentials of Illinois School Finance is an effective reference for school administrators, business managers, budget makers, and anyone who needs to understand school finance. From the peculiarities of property taxes and state funding to the formulas for projecting enrollments and staffing budgets, this book covers just about everything and is considered the "primer" for school board members as well as students of educational administration.
This Ninth Edition retains and updates information on the basic principles and operations of Illinois school financial management. It describes the rationale for and the workings of the state’s Evidence-Based Funding formula and the prospects it brings for improvement in the equity and adequacy of Illinois school funding. In this edition, the author discusses potential short- and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on revenue sources and managing costs.
·Part One deals with revenue — where schools get it, how they maximize it, protect it, and plan for it.
·Part Two addresses expenditures — how schools budget and minimize expenses.
·Part Three describes the school board’s financial responsibilities and how the board can fulfill its leadership responsibilities for the school district’s financial health.
·An appendix identifies resources that enable the reader to locate additional information.
The author taught graduate courses in educational administration and has over 35 years’ experience in the public schools as a teacher and administrator. He is a frequent presenter at conferences and workshops of the Illinois Association of School Business Officials and the Illinois Association of School Boards.