Susan Hewitt Superintendents Administrative Assistant | Official Website
Susan Hewitt Superintendents Administrative Assistant | Official Website
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 13,357 students, the countywide debt translates to approximately $10,149 per student as of fiscal year 2024.
The county includes 24 school districts, of which LaSalle-Peru Township High School District 120 held the most debt, totaling $48.5 million.
LaSalle-Peru Township High School District 120 ranked 72nd statewide among all 851 Illinois districts reporting outstanding debt.
Among the school districts in LaSalle County, Waltham Community Consolidated School District 185 used the highest percentage of its EAV-based debt limit at 8.5%, holding $6.5 million in outstanding debt with 254 students enrolled—approximately $25,492 per student. LaSalle-Peru Township High School District 120 ranked second, using 7.1% of its borrowing capacity with $48.5 million in long-term debt and an enrollment of 1,167— $41,557 per student.
Countywide, students identifying as white comprised the largest ethnic group in LaSalle County schools, accounting for 75.9% of the total enrollment. The second-largest ethnic group was Hispanic, comprising 22% 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 LaSalle County, FY 2024
| County Rank | State Rank | School District | Outstanding Debt | Percentage of Debt Limit Used | Percentage of EAV Used | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72 | LaSalle-Peru Township High School District 120 | $48,496,607 | 102.7% | 7.1% | 1,167 |
| 2 | 207 | Streator Township High School District 40 | $16,345,000 | 84.3% | 5.8% | 767 |
| 3 | 248 | Community Unit School District 2 | $13,060,000 | 45% | 6.2% | 595 |
| 4 | 309 | Peru Elementary School District 124 | $9,800,000 | 63.7% | 4.4% | 944 |
| 5 | 384 | Waltham Community Consolidated School District 185 | $6,475,000 | 122.6% | 8.5% | 254 |
| 6 | 387 | Ottawa Elementary School District 141 | $6,379,795 | 24.7% | 1.7% | 1,768 |
| 7 | 407 | La Salle Elementary School District 122 | $5,780,000 | 75.1% | 5.2% | 890 |
| 8 | 411 | Earlville Community Unit School District 9 | $5,590,000 | 50.7% | 7% | 403 |
| 9 | 445 | Seneca Township High School District 160 | $4,768,356 | 8.1% | 0.6% | 355 |
| 10 | 450 | Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289 | $4,660,000 | 23.3% | 1.6% | 1,001 |
| 11 | 513 | Wallace Community Consolidated School District 195 | $3,303,558 | 38.5% | 2.7% | 406 |
| 12 | 544 | Ottawa Township High School District 140 | $2,639,349 | 4.9% | 0.3% | 1,240 |
| 13 | 573 | Leland Community Unit School District 1 | $1,980,000 | 20.5% | 2.8% | 240 |
| 14 | 627 | Oglesby Elementary School District 125 | $1,212,782 | 18.3% | 1.3% | 457 |
| 15 | 630 | Streator Elementary School District 44 | $1,170,000 | 9.1% | 0.6% | 1,488 |
| 16 | 643 | Grand Ridge Community Consolidated School District 95 | $985,000 | 13.3% | 0.9% | 207 |
| 17 | 661 | Dimmick Community Consolidated School District 175 | $710,000 | 7.4% | 0.5% | 146 |
| 18 | 663 | Lostant Community Unit School District 425 | $690,000 | 13.7% | 1.9% | 56 |
| 19 | 688 | Miller Township Community Consolidated School District 210 | $450,000 | 8.6% | 0.6% | 189 |
| 20 | 707 | Allen-Otter Creek Community Consolidated School District 65 | $300,000 | 4.9% | 0.3% | 92 |
| 21 | 719 | Rutland Community Consolidated School District 230 | $253,999 | 8.7% | 0.6% | 65 |
| 22 | 727 | Tonica Community Consolidated School District 79 | $209,000 | 5.4% | 0.4% | 119 |
| 23 | 734 | Mendota Township High School District 280 | $170,000 | 0.8% | 0.1% | 473 |
| 24 | 743 | Deer Park Community Consolidated School District 82 | $130,000 | 3.9% | 0.3% | 35 |
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