Crete-Monee School Board Advances $17 Million Abatement for Ongoing Capital Projects

Crete-Monee Board of Education Meeting | May 12, 2026

Article Summary: The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education reviewed a resolution to abate $17 million from its working cash fund to cover district-wide construction costs, prompting a forthcoming amended budget hearing.

Capital Projects Funding Key Points:

• The Board discussed a resolution to permanently transfer $17,000,000 from the Working Cash Fund to the Operations and Maintenance Fund, and subsequently to the Capital Projects Fund.

• The funds will pay for completed and ongoing construction projects across seven district facilities, including Crete-Monee Middle School and Talala Elementary School.

• To accommodate the transfer, an amended budget public hearing is scheduled for June 9, 2026, at the Crete-Monee Early Learning Center.

The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, reviewed a resolution to abate $17 million from its working cash fund to finance ongoing capital projects across the district.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Jason Okrasinski presented the resolution during the Committee of the Whole meeting. According to the board packet, the district is required to pay for construction costs during the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years from the Capital Projects Fund. The resolution authorizes the permanent transfer of $17,000,000 from the Working Cash Fund to the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Fund, and then immediately into the Capital Projects Fund.

The abatement will fund projects at Balmoral Elementary School, Crete Elementary School, Coretta Scott King Magnet School, Crete-Monee Middle School, Crete-Monee High School, the Early Learning Center, and Talala Elementary School.

“It’s a combination of funds,” Okrasinski told the Board. “Closing out the Burns and Jones and Bear Construction work done for the sports [complex], and then also the progress that we’ve made with the construction at the middle school.”

Because of the massive transfer, the district must officially amend its budget. Okrasinski requested the Board establish June 9, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. as the date for the amended budget public hearing, which will be held at the Crete-Monee Early Learning Center. Director of Finance Brian Johnson is expected to present the amended budget for final approval at that time.

Board member William J. Sawallisch Jr. asked about the status of the district’s reserves following the transfer.

“With the transferring of 17 million out of the working cash fund, what is the remaining funds that we would have in that category?” Sawallisch asked.

Okrasinski noted he did not have the exact figure on hand but promised to provide the specific reserve numbers to the Board prior to their scheduled vote on the abatement at the regular meeting on May 19.