PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- Even though Peoria Public Schools recently lost its chief financial officer, Superintendent Jerry Bell said the budget remains on schedule.

He revealed this at the PPS Board of Education meeting Monday, where he said they will release the tentative budget on their website for public view on Tuesday.

"The budget will be adjusted quarterly prior to final adoption between now and September 28, 2026. The administration will continue to actively refine these figures," Bell said, adding that if they stay on schedule, they'll discuss the budget Sept. 14, hoping to pass it by Sept. 28.

Michael Curry, the now-former CFO, recently resigned after a few months on the job. Board Member Gregory Wilson confirmed Curry has moved on. His position is open on PPS' careers website, with a salary ranging from $110,000 to $170,000.

Bell said before Curry's resignation, the former CFO had done everything possible to keep the budget on track in his absence.

Curry was meant to take a new job somewhere else, but it wasn't made immediately clear where.

Also worth noting, as of July 1, there are approximately $78 million of liquid or semi-liquid funds in the district's cash and investment position, said Bell.

Board members are moving forward with a measure they hope can bring their books up to standard.

The district has not completed its financial audits for the past two school years. The proposal, which was unanimously passed, would add two accountants from the outside firm Now CFO to their auditing team.

Bell said they'd work over two months, getting paid $115 an hour for 40 hours a week. Bell said the goal is to surge their auditing department to get them completed.

In addition, a comptroller will get paid $211 an hour for ten hours a week to dictate what the accountants will look at. Overall, this could cost the district close to $95,000 if they work for the full two months.

It passed on a 6-0 vote. President Paris McConnell was absent from the meeting.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.