Litchfield School Board Accepts Clean Financial Audit; Auditors Advise Monitoring Benefit Funds

Litchfield CUSD 12 Meeting | October 21, 2025

Article Summary: The Litchfield School Board accepted the annual financial audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, which returned a “clean” opinion and the state’s highest financial profile designation. However, auditors advised the district to monitor the balances of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) and Social Security funds.

Litchfield Financial Audit Key Points:

• Top Rating: The district received a financial profile score of 3.7 from the Illinois State Board of Education, earning it the highest designation of “Recognition.”

• Clean Opinion: Auditors from Scheffel Boyle reported no findings, material weaknesses, or non-compliance.

• Per-Student Cost: The operational cost to educate each student rose to $13,405, an increase of roughly $753 from the previous year.

• Fund Warning: Auditors noted that the IMRF and Social Security fund balances are lower than desired, driven partly by salaries moving back to district funds after ESSER grants expired.

The Litchfield Community Unit School District No. 12 Board of Education on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, voted unanimously to approve the annual financial audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

Representatives from Scheffel Boyle, Certified Public Accountants, presented the report, delivering what they described as a “clean” opinion with no findings of non-compliance. Robin Klinger, a principal at the firm, told the board that the district achieved a financial profile score of 3.7 out of 4.0, placing Litchfield in the “Recognition” category—the highest tier assigned by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

“It is the cleanest opinion we would give you,” Klinger said regarding the financial statements.

Despite the positive report, Klinger highlighted specific areas requiring attention, particularly the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) and Social Security funds. The audit showed a decrease in revenue for these funds, largely attributed to a statewide drop in Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax (CPPRT) distributions. Additionally, expenditures in these funds increased as staff salaries and benefits previously covered by federal ESSER (pandemic relief) funds were shifted back to the district’s books.

“The Social Security fund balance needs some attention,” Klinger advised. “The IMRF fund had to bear the cost of those benefits.”

The audit also revealed that the district’s average daily attendance dropped by approximately 2% to 1,168 students. This decrease, combined with depreciation costs associated with the South Central Illinois (SCI) Workforce Training Center, contributed to an increase in the per-student operating cost, which rose from $12,652 to $13,405.

The board voted 4-0 to approve the audit. Board members Mark Bloome, Mandy Jewell, Valerie Cain, and Vice-President Ron Anglin were present. President Julie Abel and members David Belusko and Jimmy Gorowski were absent.