State aid to schools ‘held hostage' in General Assembly

Schools throughout the state could lose millions of dollars in state aid if the Illinois House of Representatives does not pass a bill necessary to disperse funds approved in the state's 2008 budget, a group of Republican representatives said Tuesday.

The General Assembly approved nearly $544 million in education funding in August as part of the 2008 budget, but the budget implementation bill required to make general aid payments to schools has not been passed.

Republican state Reps. Franco Coladipietro, 45th District, of Bloomingdale; Sandra Pihos, 42nd District, of Glen Ellyn; Mike Fortner, 95th District, of West Chicago; and Jim Meyer, 48th District, of Naperville said the bill has fallen victim to the political infighting that has slowed the budget process since the spring.

If the bill is not passed Thursday, the state comptroller's office will make aid payments Saturday, Nov. 10, at last year's level, which for many districts means missing out on thousands of dollars of which they have budgeted.

"Unfortunately, public schools are being held hostage by politics in Springfield," Pihos said at a news conference Tuesday in Wheaton outside the offices of Community Unit School District 200. "Because of inaction in our state government, the burden is being placed back on schools."

The representatives blamed House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-22nd District, of Chicago for refusing to call the bill for a vote.

Madigan's office did not immediately return calls for comment Thursday.

District 200 Superintendent Richard Drury said the loss in aid represents the salaries of 70 certified staff members. The district can dip into reserves and borrow money to make payments this year. But if the bill isn't passed eventually, budget cuts may have to be made next year, he said.

"We're really hoping the legislature will see the need to move this ahead and do it as quickly as possible," Drury said.

Meyer said this year's budget process has been shocking.

"I've been in Springfield for 15 years, and I've never seen anything like this," he said.