By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – School districts across the state could be without funds if there’s not an evidence-based school funding reform measure, sought by House Speaker Michael Madigan, in place soon.
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto message of the budget said that it “holds schools hostage to force a Chicago bailout,” because if education funding reform legislation doesn’t become law soon, no money goes out to any school in August.
State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, expressed a similar sentiment.
“Absent an agreement on school funding reform, the budget is boobytrapped with a provision that will not allow funding to go to schools,” he said.
State Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest, said the budget language “simply implies that if we do not pass an evidence-based model way of funding schools, then we will not be able to fund them.”
The Democrats’ measure passed both chambers some time ago but has yet to be sent to the governor. Republicans criticized that plan because they said it includes what amounts to a bailout of Chicago Public Schools. They proposed what they said was compromise plan, but that was never allowed to come for a vote.
Barickman asked for Democrats to come back and find an agreement on an evidence-based school funding formula.
Davis said something has to happen.
“But let’s not put all of the school children in jeopardy just because of [the governor’s] issues with the Chicago Public School system,” Davis said.
State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, said another issue included in the budget legislation that is still uncertain is the sale of the Thompson Center in Chicago.
“If we see something that breaks down in this we may be back in the position where we’re faced with a supplemental appropriation next year or we may find ourselves adding to the pile of unpaid bills,” Demmer said.
That would make it more difficult to provide state services to those in need.
The budget accounts for $300 million in revenue from the sale, but skeptics say that may not be what the state gets, if it ever does get sold. There are also concerns that proposed pension savings may not be fully realized.
The budget bills also allow $6 billion in bonds to pay off part of the state’s $15 billion bill backlog. Those bonds are to be paid off over 12 years.
