It’s going to be a year of deficit spending at several local school districts.

In DeKalb School District 428, the budget on public display includes a $2.6 million operating deficit. Sycamore School District 427 has a budget that also projects a $2.6 million deficit. The figure is smaller, only $834,000, in Genoa School District 424.

All of these districts are fortunate to have reserve funds that can carry them through this school year. But the circumstances that have led to these deficits – declining revenue from the state, including in payments for student transportation – are not likely to change.