Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: House Democrats Could Regret Voting For Pritzker’s Tax Amendment
Next Post: Jobs Tax Is Bad For Middle Class Families
Posted in:
* Interesting move…
A few months ago, the Illinois State Board of Education voted to ask lawmakers for $15.6 billion to fund public schools. Now, a newly appointed board wants to change that request, to ask for just under $9 billion.
These board members were appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, so it’s no surprise that the $8.9 billion request they’re proposing aligns almost perfectly with Pritzker’s budget.
At a hearing today, State Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan), questioned the board’s new math.
“I know the governor has his budget,” Mayfield said, “but as an agency, you have a responsibility for the children of Illinois. So you don’t have to necessarily agree with him, but you do have to do what’s best for the children. And I did not see that in your budget.”
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 10:40 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: House Democrats Could Regret Voting For Pritzker’s Tax Amendment
Next Post: Jobs Tax Is Bad For Middle Class Families
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
=as an agency, you have a responsibility for the children of Illinois. So you don’t have to necessarily agree with him, but you do have to do what’s best for the children.=
Good lord. So now we know they are toadies to the governor and not smart enough to hide it. Fantastic. (Banned word)
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 10:52 am
OY. What JS MILL said which is way better than my initial thought… That’s dumb.
Comment by Exit 59 Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:09 am
Hello, and welcome to Edu-phone. If you know how much you’d like for education funding, press one.
Using your touch-tone keypad, please enter the first three digits of your education budget now, in billions.
You selected, 0-1-5. If that’s correct, press one.
Why don’t you just tell me how much you want for education?
Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:12 am
==So now we know they are toadies to the governor and not smart enough to hide it. ==
Perhaps the previous Board were toadies to the previous Governor and put in a request they knew was too big and would need to be reduced.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:14 am
I don’t know, there was never a snowball’s chance in heck they were going to get $15.6 billion this year, not even close, so you could make a (strong) argument they decided to cut the bluster. Or yes, you can choose to see it as capitulation.
I mean, won’t the annual funding increase, which JB wants to go above and beyond on, eventually get us pretty close to that number?
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:15 am
Part of ISBE budget is TRS so I assume that is where most of the cuts are aimed at- the pension contribution
Comment by Sue Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:31 am
I’d bet every agency out there would prefer getting more $. The Governor’s people have to balance all of that and come up with a comprehensive plan. What’s unusual, to me, is that the before and after asks were public and not nailed down behind closed doors.
Comment by notsosure Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:41 am
Sad, but not unexpected.
Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 11:42 am
Good for Pritzker. The 15.6 billion was ridiculous. Most districts in this state don’t need a huge influx of new cash. They need the freedom to spend what they have on programs that work and not on ridiculous legislator vanity education projects.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 12:40 pm
==The 15.6 billion was ridiculous==
In your opinion.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:36 pm
IMO $15:6 billion is way too much.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 1:45 pm
Well Rita if “And I did not see that in your budget” is correct, can you do all the math and let us know the correct amount? If not, then I think the number is right.
Comment by I Miss Bentohs Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 3:22 pm
Years ago, that was exactly how the ISBE and IBHE budgets were brought to the GA. The agency would have a bill introduced at the level it deemed necessary to be “full funding” for elementary and secondary education. They also knew that the Governor’s budget would be lower (significantly); prior to Gov. Edgar, the agency would then help draft an amendment that brought funding to the Governor’s level, and then the GA would take it from there. I think Gov. Edgar was the first governor to introduce an approp bill at his recommended level while ISBE still introduced its budget. Under Blagojevich is the first time I remember ISBE introducing appropriations at the Governor’s recommended level without introducing what was considered a full-funding budget. Maybe this is a reach back to the past and a way to show just what is exactly needed to fully fund all the programs, goals, and needs for elementary and secondary education.
Comment by Silent Budgeteer Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 8:25 pm
But, I’m not sure the idea of just withdrawing a fully funded budget and replacing it with a lower budget just because it is at the Governor’s recommendation will help get the point across of what full funding for education will cost.
Comment by Silent Budgeteer Wednesday, Apr 3, 19 @ 8:27 pm
The previous board included funding for community schools and afterschool programs after hearing from a large number of advocates, and the new board and Governor didn’t include them. This may have been on oversight on their part, but these programs are making a huge difference in the areas of the state that need them most.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 4, 19 @ 8:56 am