Re: What the heck is wrong with you people? Wake up! Archived Message
Posted by jdg  on March 4, 2014, 6:50 pm, in reply to "Re: What the heck is wrong with you people? Wake up!"
February 28, 2014
Bad news for public schools
Sobering news out of the Capitol this past week for public schools across Illinois.
bad-news Not only will they likely not get the $1 billion in increased funding that the Illinois State Board of Education requested, it’s possible that public schools could see their current funding cut by almost $1 billion.
That’s the reality of an upcoming budget that must deal with declining revenues and increased costs in required programs.
The Illinois House and Senate agreed this past week that there will be substantially less money available in the coming budget year to support education and other key programs.
By law, state taxes will be cut next Jan. 1, resulting in a big drop-off in available revenues.
At the same time, the state must spend more to keep up with required pension payments, legally binding contracts and federal funding requirements.
The two combined blow a nearly $3 billion hole in the upcoming budget.
This backs up a dire budget picture painted by Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton at a recent news conference.
This looming decline in state support comes as the Illinois State Board of Education officials told lawmakers they need an extra $1 billion to maintain and improve educational quality in the state’s public schools.
Budgeting committees in the Senate and House recently began meeting at the Capitol to address this situation. More meetings are planned in the upcoming weeks..
Gov. Pat Quinn is scheduled to unveil his budget plan on March 26.
John J. Cullerton comstaff@senatedem.ilga.go
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