GROWING COMMUNITY WEDNESDAY JOURNAL, INC.
Vol. 100, No. 38
$1.00
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
F O R E S T PA R K
REVIEW
The quirky galleries of Forest Park PAGE 3
Welcoming our new reporter PAGE 13
SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
@FP_Review @ForestParkReview
District 91 budget in deficit Property tax revenue remains tight for Forest Park schools By JYLLIAN ROACH
F
Staff Reporter
orest Park schools will be operating at a deficit for fiscal year 2018. Edward Brophy, vice superintendent for operations, presented the projected budget, which began on July 1, 2017, to the District 91 school board at the September monthly board meeting on Thursday. The projected spending for the year amounts to $20.4 million, while the projected revenue lands at $17.9 million, leaving $2.5 million that will likely come from the district’s reserves. About 88 percent of the district’s revenue comes from property taxes, and other local sources. The state’s portion to the district makes up 7 percent, while the federal government is 5 percent. Brophy noted that only 75 percent the state’s portion was factored in, because the state has had a history of making their payments to the district later than the expected date. In an email summary of his presentation, Brophy explained that the declining revenue had multiple causes. First, a seven-year declining trend in property taxes and an average low price for goods and services has caused the annual education levy to decline by more than $950,000. In normal circumstances, this could be fixed by calling for a referendum to raise the levy, something school districts do every seven to 10 years. However, continued economic uncertainty has led District 91 to hold off. The district’s last referendum was 13 years ago. Another revenue factor is the state’s contribution. See BUDGET on page 9
Burgers with the boys
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
From left, Ben Poleski, 5, Matthew Poleski, 6, Alfonso Cides, 8, and their grandfather, Larry Poleski, enjoy dinner outside of their tent on Sept. 16 during the annual “Campin’ Out” family event at the Park District of Forest Park.
‘Mama Lou’ follows son’s advice back to showbiz By MICHELLE DYBAL Contributing Reporter
It could have easily been gardening, or a part-time job greeting shoppers at a local store. Lou “Mama Lou” Galecki
IN Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 THIS Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 ISSUE Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
of Forest Park just wanted a way to fill time after she moved back to the area. But a conversation with one of her children would give her desire a new direction that would impact that lives of many residents of Forest Park, Oak
Park and beyond. “He said I love to sing and that I have a beautiful voice and suggested I go to one of the local restaurants and volun-
‘Divine’ demonstration at library
Hiccup in Salas settlement
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See SWAG on page 10
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