Nicole Henson, Superintendent at Wayne City CUSD #100 | waynecountyceo.com
Nicole Henson, Superintendent at Wayne City CUSD #100 | waynecountyceo.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 2,394 students, the countywide debt translates to approximately $6,597 per student as of fiscal year 2024.
The county includes seven school districts, of which Wayne City Community Unit School District 100 held the most debt, totaling $5.8 million.
Wayne City Community Unit School District 100 ranked 405th statewide among all 851 Illinois districts reporting outstanding debt.
Among the school districts in Wayne County, Wayne City Community Unit School District 100 used the highest percentage of its EAV-based debt limit at 7%, holding $5.8 million in outstanding debt with 489 students enrolled—approximately $11,874 per student. Jasper Community Consolidated School District 17 ranked second, using 6.8% of its borrowing capacity with $1.3 million in long-term debt and an enrollment of 176— $7,518 per student.
Countywide, students identifying as white comprised the largest ethnic group in Wayne County schools, accounting for 94.6% of the total enrollment. The second-largest ethnic group was multiracial, comprising 1.3% 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 Wayne County, FY 2024
| County Rank | State Rank | School District | Outstanding Debt | Percentage of Debt Limit Used | Percentage of EAV Used | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 405 | Wayne City Community Unit School District 100 | $5,806,280 | 50.6% | 7% | 489 |
| 2 | 466 | Fairfield Community High School District 225 | $4,236,513 | 40.9% | 2.8% | 441 |
| 3 | 475 | Fairfield Public School District 112 | $4,061,111 | 76.7% | 5.3% | 629 |
| 4 | 624 | Jasper Community Consolidated School District 17 | $1,323,111 | 98.6% | 6.8% | 176 |
| 5 | 724 | Geff Community Consolidated School District 14 | $216,186 | 27% | 1.9% | 93 |
| 6 | 747 | New Hope Community Consolidated School District 6 | $104,700 | 4% | 0.3% | 187 |
| 7 | 758 | North Wayne Community Unit School District 200 | $44,328 | 0.5% | 0.1% | 379 |
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