Amanda Geary, Superintendent at Delavan Community Unit School District 703 | https://www.journal-republican.com/
Amanda Geary, Superintendent at Delavan Community Unit School District 703 | https://www.journal-republican.com/
Under Illinois law, districts may only borrow up to a certain limit based on their Equalized Assessed Value (EAV)—a standardized measure of taxable property used to determine legal debt caps.
Based on the school district's enrollment of 18,158 students, the countywide debt translates to approximately $5,849 per student as of fiscal year 2024.
The county includes 18 school districts, of which Central School District 51 held the most debt, totaling $19.8 million.
Central School District 51 ranked 177th statewide among all 851 Illinois districts reporting outstanding debt.
Among the school districts in Tazewell County, Delavan Community Unit School District 703 used the highest percentage of its EAV-based debt limit at 7.9%, holding $5.7 million in outstanding debt with 402 students enrolled—approximately $14,218 per student. Central School District 51 ranked second, using 6.4% of its borrowing capacity with $19.8 million in long-term debt and an enrollment of 1,267— $15,608 per student.
Countywide, students identifying as white comprised the largest ethnic group in Tazewell County schools, accounting for 87.8% of the total enrollment. The second-largest ethnic group was multiracial, comprising 4.6% of the student body.
The data was obtained by Wirepoints through a Freedom of Information Act request to the Illinois State Board of Education.
Illinois has enacted a law that changes the amount of debt school districts can issue. According to an analysis by Chapman, the new rules permit school districts to borrow more money than previously allowed. At the same time, the law modifies limits on property tax extensions that fund this debt. As a result, if districts take on more debt, local property taxes could increase to cover the additional costs.
The Illinois State Board of Education’s budget for fiscal year 2026 will increase from nearly $10.8 billion to about $11.2 billion. This includes a $307 million boost for K–12 schools, marking the smallest annual increase since 2020.
The agency has paused about $50 million in funding previously allocated through the Evidence-Based Funding formula for the Property Tax Relief Grant while reviewing its impact on local tax relief. Officials say the pause could affect the timing and amount of property tax relief available to taxpayers.
The annual reporting aims to increase transparency and accountability around school debt. Future reports will include 15 years of historical data, allowing residents to track long-term financial trends.
Outstanding School Debt by School District in Tazewell County, FY 2024
| County Rank | State Rank | School District | Outstanding Debt | Percentage of Debt Limit Used | Percentage of EAV Used | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 177 | Central School District 51 | $19,775,000 | 92.4% | 6.4% | 1,267 |
| 2 | 214 | Washington Community High School District 308 | $15,790,000 | 39.1% | 2.7% | 1,424 |
| 3 | 231 | Pekin Consolidated School District 303 | $14,465,000 | 29.4% | 2% | 1,701 |
| 4 | 296 | East Peoria Community High School District 309 | $10,477,336 | 29.1% | 2% | 854 |
| 5 | 361 | Deer Creek-Mackinaw Community Unit School District 701 | $7,407,856 | 34.9% | 4.8% | 954 |
| 6 | 369 | East Peoria School District 86 | $7,167,745 | 24.3% | 1.7% | 1,403 |
| 7 | 380 | Morton Community Unit School District 709 | $6,566,007 | 6.7% | 0.9% | 3,231 |
| 8 | 409 | Delavan Community Unit School District 703 | $5,715,455 | 56.9% | 7.9% | 402 |
| 9 | 431 | Pekin Public School District 108 | $5,005,284 | 13.9% | 1% | 3,134 |
| 10 | 515 | District 50 Schools | $3,285,000 | 47.6% | 3.3% | 574 |
| 11 | 534 | Tremont Community Unit School District 702 | $2,860,000 | 13.4% | 1.9% | 878 |
| 12 | 546 | Rankin Community School District 98 | $2,608,000 | 49% | 3.4% | 211 |
| 13 | 583 | Washington School District 52 | $1,780,988 | 14.6% | 1% | 811 |
| 14 | 602 | North Pekin-Marquette Heights School District 102 | $1,508,281 | 28.8% | 2% | 454 |
| 15 | 631 | Creve Coeur School District 76 | $1,145,927 | 24.6% | 1.7% | 488 |
| 16 | 688 | South Pekin School District 137 | $450,000 | 36.5% | 2.5% | 185 |
| 17 | 738 | Robein School District 85 | $160,000 | 7% | 0.5% | 150 |
| 18 | 759 | Spring Lake Community Consolidated School District 606 | $40,846 | 3.8% | 0.3% | 37 |
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