By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

At the budget seminar on April 30, the Parkland School District administration and board reviewed a 2021-22 financial plan with no tax increase.

If the proposed budget is granted final approval in June, the present 15.71 mill rate will continue through the next school year.

The document lists $201,072,623 as projected expenditures for 2021-22, an $8,685,269 increase over the previous year.

Anticipated revenue is $196,562,845.

Director of Business Administration John Vignone reported to The Press several factors which enabled the district to retain the same millage despite a 4.51-percent increase in expenditures over the 2020-21 term.

He said stimulus money from the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is helping to pay for new salary positions required for virtual learning and other COVID-19 adaptations.

Vignone said Parkland should receive $11.2 million from the American Rescue Plan which must be used in ways specified by the issue, such as technology and facility improvements related to the pandemic.

More than $1.5 million of stimulus funds will be directed to Parkland technology acquisitions and upgrades which usually were paid from the district’s Capital Projects Fund.

The business manager explained $400,000 of government money will be used for a ventilation improvement project at Parkway Manor Elementary School.

Vignone noted real estate values continue to increase in Parkland, which increases district revenue.

He also stated debt payments have been reduced by $2 million over last year due to careful financial planning.

To make up the difference between revenue and expenditures, the district will appropriate $4,509,778 from the fund balance.

This action will help offset the need for a tax increase.

Vignone provided an additional reason for holding the same tax rate as last year.

“We thought zero increase was the right thing to do to help people who need it,” the business manager said.

He also commented on the process which led to the decision to avoid a tax increase.

“Things lined up for us to do the zero mill. It was well thought out,” Vignone said.