When former St. Joseph Ogden Schools superintendent Todd Pence came on as interim Danville District 118 Finance Director at the start of 2026, he determined that problems in 118’s current $96 million budget were more steep than the school board realized. He told CIMG that a public relations type move with the tax levy last fall was likely one source of the trouble.
AUDIO: We let the tax rate go down about 70 cents. Half our revenue comes from the tax money, and then we get our grants from the state and federal government. They levied the same amount, rather than the same rate. So, as the assessed value goes up, we would’ve gotten a lot more money. So instead, we locked in at what we were getting the year before.
So Pence began to work on various adjustments. Much of it had to do with keeping better track of how approximately $40 million in grants the district receives are handled. In fact, Superintendent John Hart says one change being made when the the 2026-27 Fiscal Year begins on July 1st, will be having the Grants Office and Business Office in the same room.
AUDIO: There’s a lot of spending that goes on with grants at the end of the year. A lot of times; the money that we’re afforded, it’s either “use it or lose it.” And so, we spend those quickly. So, just improving that communication will help a lot.
Interim District 118 Finance Director Todd Pence (R) listens as Board Member Christopher Easton (L) explains his “on principle” reason for voting “no” on the District 118 Amended Budget.
During Monday’s specially scheduled 1 PM meeting, the one vote against the amended budget came from board member Christopher Easton; saying that his vote was “by principal,” since the adjustment was being made 15 days before the end of the fiscal year on June 30th. Pence says amendments to next year’s budget will hopefully be made much earlier.
District 118’s audit on the 2025-26 school year is due on October 15th. Pence says when the district’s financial picture becomes more concise, more local accountant offices may be interested in handling the audits for District 118.
A section of damaged roof alongside Mark Denman Elementary School.
As for the damage to Mark Denman School from the June 11th tornadoes goes, Superintendent Hart says it was both the roof itself and technology wired within the roof area that took a big hit. Both Hart and District 118 Director of Buildings and Grounds Tyler Weiderburner told CIMG that the time frame for fixing up Mark Denman is not known at this time, as additional assessments and communications with insurance are now taking place.
