Peoria Public Schools board unanimously approved a budget and a revised purchasing policy during last night’s meeting. But the board’s key authority on both of these financial actions is leaving.
CFO Mark Wilcockson’s resignation takes effect Friday. But Wilcockson says some of his influence will still be seen in next year’s budget process:
“I call it managing from the grave," Wilcockson said. " I won’t be here, but we’ve set up a calendar that basically starts next month, to start working we’ll have budget decisions by March of 2016.”
Wilcockson says he also helped set up committees for next year’s budget. One of those committees is focused on enhancing revenue, like Tax Increment Financing districts.
Wilcockson resigned last week after working for District 150 a little more than a year. Wilcockson says he’s retiring.
The news was a shock to a few board members, like Lynne Costic:
“Hate to see you go. Was surprised...," Costic said. "But you know when to say when, and I appreciate everything that you’ve brought to us as a board.”
The District’s 2016 spending plan aims to cut the deficit by $5.3 million. That would end the fiscal 2016 year with an $8.3 million deficit.
"We're not out of the woods yet," Cloyd said.