Group of City Officials Propose Solution to CPS Budget Cuts

Those schools thought the dark cloud had passed after escaping the CPS chopping block that named 49 schools for closure in the fall. But after principals were handed slashed budgets for the 2013-2014 school year parents and teachers started calling their local representatives.

“For the first time, (parents) are considering whether staying in the city is the best option for their families,” Rep. Ann Williams (D-11th) said.

After attending an Audubon Elementary School LSC meeting in Roscoe Village, Williams said she was shocked at the $700,000 budget reduction.

"I couldn't believe what I was hearing items of the cuts that the principal was trying to budget for," she said.

Read about some of the 19th Ward budget cuts. 

Williams joined Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th), Rep Greg Harris (D-13th), Cook County Commisioner John Fridtchey (D-12th) and parents from local schools at City Hall Monday to advocate for improvements at all levels of government.

Officials are proposing a two-pronged solution for schools. 

In the short term, declare surplus tax increment finance and give the funds to CPS, and in the long term, fix the structural problems at the state level.

Easier said than done.

Chicago aldermen have 10 weeks to pass an ordinance giving TIF funding to classrooms. How much funding depends on the extent of budget cuts facing each school, Ward 47 Ald. Ameya Pawar said.

The TIF funding, typically reserved for economic development, would get money into the classrooms for the coming school year. The practice isn’t uncommon; in 2010, Mayor Richard M. Daley reserved $90 million in TIF funding for CPS.

If the city council approves the funding, more fixes will need to happen at the state level.

Harris, who has three schools closing in his district, said both the pension system and the way Illinois distributes education funding need to be revamped.

But change doesn’t come easy, with the Illinois House of Representatives, Senate and Governor all having to agree to change.

“Looking at the diversity of our state, let alone the diversity of our city, that’s just not easy to do,” Williams said.

At a recent parents meeting at Kellogg Elementary School in Beverly discussion turned toward the use of TIF funds and how they redirect revenue from schools  into development projects. 

In recent weeks, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has agreed to funnel $55 million of TIF money to DePaul University to purchase land so they can construct a new stadium. The Chicago Reader explores that deal in more depth. 

Recent budget numbers from CPS indicate that the school system's three main sources of revenue are: 36 percent local property taxes, 31 percent state revenue and 24 percent federal revenue. 

If you want to share information about budget cuts use the comment section below or email Daniell@patch.com. 

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