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* The Sun-Times interviewed embattled CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. Scroll way down…
Both borrowing and TIFs would be one-time band-aids. That’s why the mayor and CPS say they are looking to Springfield for more long-term sustainable solutions.
The CTU blamed Martinez for not going downstate earlier in the spring to lobby for more funding for CPS.
Martinez on Wednesday said the city was too focused on other issues, such as a few CPS-related bills on an elected school board, school cops and selective enrollment programs.
He added that officials from Gov. JB Pritzker’s office told Martinez and Board of Education President Jianan Shi in a “heated” meeting in May that CPS and the city didn’t appear aligned on funding as their top legislative goal.
The current strife doesn’t help CPS make its case. But Martinez said he’d like to go down earlier in the spring session and make funding the top priority.
The mayor never asked the governor or legislative leaders for additional CPS funding, even though he was saying publicly that the state “owes” CPS $1.1 billion (which isn’t true). Instead, he was more focused on a new stadium for the Bears and some other issues.
* And now for the magic beans, via WTTW…
Before Martinez publicly called for TIF funds to be used to balance CPS’ budget, CTU leaders called for all funds now set aside in TIF districts to be returned to taxing agencies, which would allow CPS officials to balance the district’s budget.
That would likely violate state law and upend Johnson’s already approved plan to phase out the city’s decades-long reliance on TIFs and use those funds for a wide-ranging slate of projects designed to expand the supply of affordable homes and good-paying jobs.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 1:55 am
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