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We’re not exactly Old Faithful here

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Illinois

* Ah, life in Illinois…

[South Beloit School District Superintendent Scott Fisher] said the district typically receives a little over $3 million in general aid from the state. The district’s saving grace is its upward enrollment, Fisher said.

“There are no clear payment dates and its not on time,” said Fisher. “We never budget all our money and that has helped us.”

Fisher said typically the district reduces the budget by 10-20 percent when planning due to the lack of certainty in the state.

Sean Milner, finance director at Hononegah Community School District, agreed. The district relies on local revenue at 77 percent, while only 20 percent of funding comes from the state and 3 percent from federal funds. The district’s total general state aid was $4.3 million this year.

Milner said the district typically receives mandated category funding one quarter behind and that district only budgets to receive three of the four scheduled payments, which amount to about $300,000 each.

“We prepare not to receive that money,” Milner said.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 8:22 am

Comments

When businesses and people face the uncertainty that they have faced since Governor Rauner took office, they cut back on spending due to the uncertain environment surrounding the governor’s refusal to negotiate on the budget until his agenda is passed. That has to be having a detrimental effect on the Illinois economy.

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 8:28 am
Plus, the poorer the district, the bigger the loss, which by the way, is state of Illinois policy. Pro-ration of General State Aid disproportionately impacts poor school districts and poor children. Even with the Loss Limitation Grants this year, the biggest losers are still the poorest districts. Often times, these districts have higher tax rates as well. Where is the public outcry?

Comment by nobody Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 8:35 am
Meh, it could be worse. K-12 wasn’t chosen as a hostage for leverage.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 8:38 am
Those two districts are not alone. We do the same with MCATS and, beginning this year, we plan for lower GSA payments than promised. GSA was coming on time and at what ever reduced level (95% or 89%) promised depending on the year.

The shorting and delays for MCATS has been going on the better part of 5 years. Quinn reduced transportation payments and we now get about 45% of the actual claim (through a two tierd “proration”). That is pretty hard on rural and large geographic districts. We are mandated to run buses.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 8:39 am
=biggest losers are still the poorest districts=

Yes and no. It is true most of the time, but some “poor” districts are very well funded by state aid. Even to the point of running large annual surpluses during an era of reduced funding or proration. The “loss limit” funds should not have been shared with those districts and, instead, put into the pool to help other poor districts that were actually struggling.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 8:42 am
A clearer breakdown of this one school district may be more helpful than expanding out into the usual arguments.

So South Beloit typically receives $3 million in “general aid” but were allocated $4.3 million in “general state aid” this year. Their “general funding still came through on time,” but their “mandated category funding” (e.g. special education, transportation, lunch reimbursements) haven’t been paid yet.

Among other things, it’s difficult to understand from the article whether the allocation of $4.3 million includes the “mandated category funding” or is the pool of money that “came through on time” as divided payments over the school year.

This doesn’t even account for whether the $4.3 million was before or after pro-ration, let alone other percentage reductions on mandated category funding that may have been carried over from prior administrations.

Comment by COPN Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 9:17 am
=This doesn’t even account for whether the $4.3 million was before or after pro-ration, let alone other percentage reductions on mandated category funding that may have been carried over from prior administrations.=

Carry over is doubtful, we did not receive FY 15 GSA payments in July (FY 16) but we did receive 1 late MCAT payment (in trans and SPED) in July.

He does make things a little less clear when he said “total general state aide” but that probably means GSA only and in prorated dollars since he said it was the total he received and he addressed MCAT’s separately.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 9:30 am
Upward enrollment? CPS would love to have that problem /s

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 9:48 am
“We never budget all our money and that has helped us.” Fisher said typically the district reduces the budget by 10-20 percent when planning due to the lack of certainty in the state.

This appears to not be unique to this budget year. “Never” and “typically” both indicate this has become a regular practice long before Rauner was even elected. Just more evidence of just how little state government can be trusted anymore. This is MUCH bigger than just a recently-elected Governor. Anyone who says otherwise is either naive, in denial or delusional.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 9:52 am
Since the schools can not figure out what their payments are for, ISBE is not doing a good job of communicating with the schools.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 10:38 am
This is brilliant. Govt agencies will cut and survive. Then Rauner can say “See -I knew you got too much money.” Then he can start the next budget on that lower baseline.

Comment by Dr. X Tuesday, Oct 6, 15 @ 12:30 pm