By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – Unit 5 is amending its current budget to show a deficit.

Finance director Marty Hickman said it’s appearing less and less likely the district will receive the final categorical payment from the state. The missed payment would leave a $411,000 hole in the budget.

“We have made the decision, since that’s the most likely scenario, to amend our budget to show the loss of that revenue,” Hickman said.

Hickman added the good news is Unit 5 has done a good job managing what it has control over.

“We made some hard budget choices last year because of the previous budget deficit and we have stuck to that budget,” said Hickman. “Our expenses have stayed in line. We’ve controlled everything we can locally. The wildcard right now is what’s going to happen with the state and that funding.”

Hickman explained if the fourth payment comes in Unit 5 would end the fiscal year with about a $1 million surplus. The Board of Education will vote on the amended budget in June.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].