When you’ve lost Ralph Martire…
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ralph Martire, the executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, regularly and forcefully advocates for more tax revenues and increased spending to fulfill the many promises that the state has made over the decades. For instance…
True, in nominal dollars net service appropriations for FY 2027 are $204 million, or one-half of one percent, greater than in FY 2026. But that ignores inflation, which drives up the cost of providing public services annually, just like it increases private sector household and business costs. After inflation, FY 2027 spending on public services will actually be 1.7% less than in FY 2026. Considered over the long haul, FY 2027 service appropriations are fully $7 billion less in inflation-adjusted terms than they were back in FY 2000, under Republican Gov. George Ryan. Ergo any complaints about over spending are, well, over blown.
* But even Ralph found it difficult to issue a full-throated demand that the legislature fill the CPS budget hole during the upcoming fall veto session…
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the $9.96 billion budget Chicago Public Schools passed for the coming fiscal year is generating some controversy. OK, so whenever CPS does anything it engenders controversy. But in this case, some legitimate issues are on the table.
That’s because in a split vote, the CPS Board passed a budget that includes $150 million in state funding the Illinois General Assembly hasn’t authorized. The board members who voted for the budget noted the speaker of the House and Senate president have publicly indicated a willingness to get more state funding for CPS this year, and including the extra $150 million averted the need to lay off roughly 760 teachers, 800 or so support personnel and 41 assistant principals. […]
Unfortunately, last year CPS had $985 million less than what the evidence indicated it needed to provide an adequate education to its students. So those board members who approved the new CPS budget decided to put some pressure on state lawmakers to close $150 million of that gap this year.
And if the additional state funding doesn’t materialize? CPS could offset the shortage by implementing the roughly $145 million in cuts from furlough days and midyear hiring freezes it previously identified but put off implementing until it sees whether the General Assembly steps up to the plate. That seems, well reasonable, even if not ideal from a pure budgetary policy standpoint.
All the more surprising because Stacy Davis Gates is listed as a CTBA board member.
- Shytown - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 1:40 pm:
“When you’ve lost Ralph Martire” good one!
But they still won’t listen. SDG, MBJ and CTU know only one gear and it’s gonna steer them into a head on collision by the time this election is over.
- Blazzzer - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 1:59 pm:
So disturbing that CPS and CTU are using Chicago’s children as pawns in this ugly game of chicken. No one wants to do the hard work of revenues and cuts, so CPS and CTU decide to dump their budgetary problems onto Springfield? Putting pressure on their “friends” to give them an extra $150 million before the election or “own” the layoffs and cuts? Politics is an ugly business.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 2:02 pm:
what Ralph said.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 2:06 pm:
===before the election===
Veto session is always after the election.
- Tax And Spend - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 2:14 pm:
So…Vice Mayor Gates…and Mayor Johnsons CPS Appointed Board members….watched the Chicago Transit Bail Out develop…and work out….so now they are following the here comes the disaster play book…
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 2:25 pm:
Had the ILGA listened to Martire in 2003-2005, we would be down to something like a 30% unfunded pension liability by now. So, there is that.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 2:31 pm:
==FY 2027 service appropriations are fully $7 billion less in inflation-adjusted terms than they were back in FY 2000==
I scanned that entire article for the word “pension” and nothing came up. Strange, because spending on pensions today far exceed that $7 billion shortfall. Probably worth noting for a research outfit.
- Casper the Ghost Bus - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 2:31 pm:
If Ralph had a grasp of how many people “live under a rock” and don’t follow inside baseball politics, his agenda might find some success.
- Alton Sinkhole - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 2:36 pm:
Well said, Casper.
- Frida's Boss - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 2:37 pm:
CPS significantly increased positions, staff, and annual recurring costs while utilizing temporary federal COVID-19 relief funds. They did this in conjunction with CTU, knowing that the COVID funding would not be a recurring resource. Since 2019/20 CPS has added almost 10,000 teachers and staff while at the same time losing 45,000 students.
Sadly, the CTU doesn’t care about its students, only its own pocketbooks and pensions. Their last contract has saddled the City with a 4-5% yealry COLA while the general public isn’t guaranteed anything. But please, Stacey, please tell us it’s everyone else’s fault and never look in the mirror.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 2:47 pm:
=== Strange, because spending on pensions today far exceed that $7 billion shortfall.===
Pension funding amounts were set 30+ years ago by the Edgar Pension Ramp. Apparently Ralph accepts the law as written. Ignoring the law when discussing pension matters? That is from the playbook of IPI.
- Sue - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 3:19 pm:
When did the IFT displace IEA as the State’s largest teachers’ union?Tax and Spend reversed the correct titles- It is Mayor Gates and Vice Mayor CTU LOA Johnson- Johnson is Gate’s employee albeit on a LOA
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 3:26 pm:
@City Zen
He said SERVICE appropriations. You’re trying to be cute once again with your comments.
- Blazzzer - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 4:36 pm:
=== Veto session is always after the election.===
Right. Which is why they are calling for a special session now. I thought layoffs will occur in October without the magic money from the Springfield? Seems like CTU and CPS are trying to make the Governor and the General Assembly “own” the layoffs and cuts if they don’t get their magic money. What am I missing?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 5:29 pm:
=== What am I missing?===
Even Welch has said no to a special session. It ain’t happening. Period.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 7:10 pm:
- If Ralph had a grasp of how many people “live under a rock” and don’t follow inside baseball politics, his agenda might find some success. -
Someone has to run the actual numbers.
- Snarkie from Schaumburg - Wednesday, Aug 12, 26 @ 10:51 pm:
Ralph Martire, the oracle of Illinois.
- Frida's Boss - Thursday, Aug 13, 26 @ 12:22 am:
@Blazzer- cuts to CPS, even if they happen in October won’t matter on the election. No Chicago legislator has a General election opponent and even if they do they will still win their race against any Republican in the city. I also don’t think any Dem suburban legislator will get hurt if COS lays off as the suburbs has been watching this goofy Board pass this ridiculous budget and people hate Brandon Johnson in the suburbs.