October 26. 2007

Springfield … Elmhurst School District 205 and Addison School District 4 stand to lose thousands of new education dollars unless the General Assembly passes legislation releasing this promised funding.

“Back in August, the General Assembly passed a bipartisan budget which included nearly $544 million in new state funds for education including a $400 per pupil increase in general state aid. School districts have relied on these new funding projections to formulate their own budgets for this fiscal year. It is completely unacceptable to turn around and tell our school districts that those promised education dollars are now gone,” said State Representative Dennis Reboletti. “It was just announced that we are returning to Springfield on November 1st. I am calling on the Democratic leadership to allow the House and Senate to vote immediately on an education budget implementation bill which would release these funds.”

According to state law, the State Board of Education does not have the authority to release the funds because the education budget implementation (BIMP) legislation has not been passed. Earlier this month, House Republicans filed and demanded that House Democrats and Speaker Madigan allow the House to vote on a budget implementation bill. Speaker Madigan denied the request.

Reboletti stated that Elmhurst School District 205 and Addison School District 4 stand to lose $304,049 & $268,057 respectively, in new education dollars unless a budget implementation bill is passed.

State Representative Bob Biggins (R-Elmhurst) said it is time for the State to deliver on its promises. “Our schools are depending on this state funding. Normally the budget implementation bill is voted on immediately after the budget is approved by the General Assembly. However, it’s been two months since the budget was approved and the money is still not being released to schools that are depending on this funding to educate our children. My hope is that the House and Senate will follow through immediately on our return to Springfield next week and formally pass legislation releasing this money,” said Biggins.

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