Niles schools treasurer warns of possible levy

By Jordan Cohen

NILES — The treasurer of the city school district warned that the district could face a 12-mill levy this year due to projected revenue losses.

Linda Molinaro, who presented her five-year financial forecast Thursday night, said revenues for the current fiscal year and the next four are flat to decreasing.

“We see no additional income,” Molinaro told the board of education. “We’ll need 12 [additional] mills to operate at our current and anticipated levels without significant budget cuts.”

Last November, Niles voters approved a 5.3-mill bond issue for construction of a new high school and two new elementary schools. Two of the district’s levies of more than 4 mills will expire in 2010 and 2012 and will have to be renewed.

Molinaro said the district also faces reduced state funding due to its declining enrollment, which has dropped by more than 330 in the last few years. She warned that Niles schools could be placed under a state fiscal watch if revenue shortfalls aren’t eliminated.

However, Superintendent Rocco Adduci said he is not ready to submit a levy to the voters.

“I am not in favor of more taxes,” the superintendent said. “I want to examine where we stand with retirements and replacements, and explore other possible cuts.”

Adduci said he must decide by April 30 under state law. “I’ll determine what the situation is at that time,” he said.

The news was not all bad for the superintendent. The board unanimously voted to rehire Adduci to a two-year contract, effective Aug. 1. Adduci, who currently earns $87,647 per year, will receive a 2 percent increase the first year and 2.75 percent the second, which will increase his salary to more than $92,000. The percentage of the two increases is the same as those given to teachers and principals in 2008. Adduci will also continue his co-pay of 10 percent for health care benefits.

He has been Niles superintendent since 2004.