Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for January 5, 2008 IL SCHOOL FUNDING CHANGE/DELAY

Blagojevich alters school funding boost

By Kurt Erickson, the southern springfield bureau

SPRINGFIELD - Schools waiting for a boost in state funding promised by lawmakers last year will have to wait a while longer.

In action Friday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation that would funnel an estimated $560 million in additional cash to school districts.

But, because the governor made some changes to the so-called budget implementation bill, the legislation now must return to the General Assembly for further action.

The governor's move further delays the distribution of the added money to schools.

State Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, called the governor's changes a positive step because they will assure quicker delivery of about $50 million in special education funding increases to districts.

"I'm happy that he made the change," said Eddy, who also is a school superintendent.

The House and Senate could take up the issue when they return next week.

The governor's decision to alter the legislation was not a surprise. He had threatened to do so a month ago. He and lawmakers have been at odds since last spring over the state budget and other issues.

Blagojevich said without the changes, school districts wouldn't have been able to access the added special education money until next July.

"I hope the legislature will accept the technical changes we've made when they convene next week so schools can begin collecting the special education funding that's critical to meeting their students' needs," Blagojevich said in a prepared statement.

The delay in getting the money affects about 800 school districts. But, not all of them have been counting on receiving it.

Given the political stalemate that has enveloped Springfield for the past year, some districts did not write the additional funds into their budgets.

The proposal boosts the minimum amount that schools must spend on each student to $5,734, up from $5,334.

Eddy and state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said it wasn't clear why it took the governor two months to take action on what appears to be a technical problem with the legislation.

"Why did it take that long?" Bradley asked.

The measure would have become law automatically late Friday if the governor had done nothing with the legislation.

The legislation is Senate Bill 783.