By Adam Studzinski

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois legislators have approved a stopgap budget for the state and Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed it into law.

The measures fund essential state services, social services and local municipalities through the end of December. Education is funded for the entire fiscal year.

Funding is being provided also for higher education and MAP grants.

State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) said there is still work to be done.

“It’s not the end. It’s really the beginning of more work that’s going to continue to get a full budget,” Brady said.

Brady added these measures provide some stability to secondary education.

“In talking to some of our superintendents that I represent, it gives them a sigh of relief,” he said.

State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) said the stop gap budget had to be passed to continue to move forward.

“It’s nothing to be proud of,” said Bill Brady. “I guess my best way to put it is I think it’s necessary. It was clearly necessary that we put something together in a bipartisan way.”

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) said what’s being done for education is historic.

“Today’s budget, we end proration. We fully fund our school systems. We’re really making an investment in an educational that for years has been underfunded,” Barickman said.

Barickman added even though lawmakers won’t officially reconvene until November, work will start right away.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].