For Immediate Release
October 29, 2007
State Superintendent, local education
leaders urge the Illinois House to pass a bill that ensures
state schools get funds they need for FY08 school year
Failure to pass Budget Implementation Bill means 700 school districts will receive
less state aid starting in November; St. Clair, Madison County schools will see
a reduction of $2.5 million per month if the House fails to take action BELLEVILLE – Illinois
State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch, joined Regional Superintendents
from St. Clair, Madison and Monroe/Randolph
counties, as well as other local education officials to urge lawmakers to pass
legislation that will prevent more than 700 school districts from losing critical
funding for the FY08 school year. Starting in November, Illinois School Districts
will lose more than $550 million in General State Aid (GSA) if the House fails
to pass a Budget Implementation (BIMP) bill, including $2.5 million per month
for St. Clair and Madison County schools alone. Without this bill, the Illinois
State Board of Education will have to make GSA payments to schools at the FY07
funding levels, which does not take into account additional student enrollment,
changes in local property taxes and other local funding increases.
“We need to provide schools the GSA payments they
are due at 2008 funding levels. This is money schools
are counting on,” said Dr. Koch. “Thousands
of schools around the state are counting on this money
to pay teachers, utilities, buy text books and fund after
school programs. I’m urging the House to pass a
new Foundation Level and make sure Illinois schools have
the money they need to educate our children.”
Funding in the Fiscal Year 2008 budget includes a $400
increase in the state’s Foundation Level to $5,734
per student. If lawmakers approve that increase to the
Foundation Level it will result in 816 districts/lab
schools/safe schools realizing an increase in their GSA
payments from what they are currently receiving. However,
if the General Assembly does not enact the new Foundation
Level, 726 districts/lab schools/safe schools, starting
in November, will receive less GSA than they are currently
receiving. These losses will be due to changes in Average
Daily Attendance, property taxes and other local resources.
In the Metro East counties of Madison and St. Clair,
that will mean a decrease of state funding to schools
of more than $2.5 million a month from what they
are currently receiving. Monthly reductions to local
schools
will include:
- Edwardsville CUSD 7 — $387,613
- Granite City
CUSD 9 — $328,990
- Alton CUSD 11 — $248,171
- Triad CUSD 2 — $158,157
- Belleville Township
HSD 201 — $143,342
- East St. Louis SD 189 — $131,866
“These are dollars schools need that are budgeted
and they should be receiving,” said Belleville
Township High School District 201 Superintendent Dr.
Greg A. Moats. “We need all sides to work cooperatively
to pass a Budget Implementation Bill so that schools
can receive the money they are owed and provide all the
available resources students need.”
In addition, the Fiscal Year 2008 budget includes an
increase in funding to school districts for special education
reimbursement rates of $1,000 for certified personnel
and $700 for non-certified personnel. However, these
increases to schools can not be paid until lawmakers
pass a Budget Implementation Bill.
If lawmakers do eventually pass a BIMP that increases
the Foundation Level, ISBE will recalculate GSA at the
new levels and districts will be paid their full FY 2008
amounts on future payments. However, reduced payments
will begin with the first GSA payment in November and
will continue at that level until the legislature passes
a BIMP.
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