Ford County districts used up to 64.1% of borrowing capacity in fiscal year 2024

School districts across Ford County held a combined $38.4 million in long-term outstanding debt as of fiscal year 2024, amounting to 64.1% of the area’s total allowable borrowing capacity, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

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 2,207 students, the countywide debt translates to approximately $17,384 per student as of fiscal year 2024.

The county includes two school districts, of which Paxton-Buckley-Loda Community Unit School District 10 held the most debt, totaling $27.5 million.

Paxton-Buckley-Loda Community Unit School District 10 ranked 138th statewide among all 851 Illinois districts reporting outstanding debt.

Among the school districts in Ford County, Paxton-Buckley-Loda Community Unit School District 10 used the highest percentage of its EAV-based debt limit at 11.8%, holding $27.5 million in outstanding debt with 1,231 students enrolled—approximately $22,368 per student. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unit School District 5 ranked second, using 5.4% of its borrowing capacity with $10.8 million in long-term debt and an enrollment of 976— $11,099 per student.

Countywide, students identifying as white comprised the largest ethnic group in Ford County schools, accounting for 84.4% of the total enrollment. The second-largest ethnic group was Hispanic, comprising 9% 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.