'Fiscal Prudence' Pushed In Hinsdale D-86

BURR RIDGE, IL – It is no secret that Jeff Waters, a member of the Hinsdale High School District 86 board, is critical of the administration. His problems have been with curriculum and issues such as anti-racism consultants and masks, among others.

At last week's board meeting, though, Waters turned his attention to finances. He called for "intense fiscal prudence," given the inflationary environment.

In his comments, Waters, a member of the district's finance committee, offered no criticism of the administration on finances, other than his usual opposition to legal bills.

In his more than a year on the board, Waters has generally gone along with the administration's financial proposals. He joined the unanimous vote in late July in support of the annual budget.

In his first months on the board, Waters seemed willing to support a proposal to spend an extra $1.6 million to offer two science sequences at Hinsdale Central and South. The board's factions later struck a compromise for a far lower amount.

Last December, Waters joined the unanimous vote for this summer's building projects, which are part of the 2019 voter-approved referendum. Yet, in June, he opposed transferring $2.6 million from the district's main account to cover the costs of the same projects that he approved earlier.

Explaining his dissenting vote, Waters said he wanted to promote "fiscal prudence." He did not propose another way to pay for the projects he had supported in December. His board allies, Peggy James and Debbie Levinthal, joined the majority.

Waters cast his vote after resident Andrew Catton and others criticized the increases in referendum projects. (Elmhurst School District 205, where voters approved a major referendum in 2018, is experiencing similar cost issues with its construction.)

At Thursday's board meeting, Waters said the board needed to be "judicious on the expenditure side and look for any and all opportunities to harvest savings."

He cited rising labor and materials costs that are affecting every area. And he noted the contract with the teachers union that is expiring next summer.

Waters asked the community to watch District 86's finances closely.

"Revenues are directly and largely attributed to all of us taxpayers," Waters said. "Expenses of all classifications should be carefully considered."

"In my estimation," Waters said, "the district needs to always be fiscally responsible. But given the inflationary environment we find ourselves in now, that charge should be elevated to intense fiscal prudence and responsible budget appropriating."

Board members did not respond to his comments.