Suburban schools look for certainty in state budget

Glenbard High School District 87 English teacher Kevin Sutton was one of hundreds of teachers at the state Capitol recently lobbying lawmakers as they begin their budget-making process in earnest.

Months after increasing income taxes, lawmakers are faced with cutting back on some programs in a continued attempt to straighten out the state's messy finances.

Because schools are one of the state's biggest expenses, cuts to funding for suburban school systems might be a part of the eventual solution.

Teachers, some wearing matching white union visors while trying to spread their message in Springfield, acknowledged the reality, but warned about the potential harm.

“Everyone has to give a little,” said Sutton, a Batavia resident. “But at the same time, you can't sacrifice the future.”

That kind of balancing act is what some lawmakers now are facing, as they start to move some budget legislation in the weeks before their end-of-May deadline. While some progress has been made, they haven't yet taken up school funding, which promises to be especially sensitive, given that the state still owes millions to public schools and has been underfunding its share of educators' pension systems.

So far, some of the budget proposals considered in both the House and Senate cut from several state agencies, none particularly controversial.

Still, the moves generated controversy, at least in the Senate. Republicans argued Democrats weren't cutting enough but said they appreciated at least being included in negotiations, unlike recent years.

“I'm pleased at the change in the dialogue we have seen,” said Sen. Matt Murphy, a Palatine Republican, who nevertheless voted against Senate Democrats' budget plans.

That was to the apparent frustration of some Democratic budget-makers, who say their proposals spend less money than Gov. Pat Quinn has suggested.

“The train's leaving the station when it comes to voting on cuts,” Sen. Dan Kotowski, a Park Ridge Democrat, argued on the Senate floor. “Either get on the train, or get off the train.”

The House's early budget votes have gone more smoothly, so far. Rep. Fred Crespo, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, said his budget committee set ground rules together on how they'd proceed.

“We collectively decided which rules we were going to apply,” Crespo said.

Lawmakers, though, haven't taken votes on spending plans — including for schools — that are among the most controversial.

“Education always is,” said Sen. Linda Holmes, an Aurora Democrat. “Let's face it, that's what fires up our constituents, too.”

For their part, some school officials say they're watching actions in Springfield closely. But most are experienced by now dealing with Springfield cash-flow problems. Many districts are owed millions of dollars by the state.

“The details are important,” Maine Township High School District 207 spokesman Dave Beery said. “But like any school district, we would welcome any moves from the state that provides a degree of certainty that is completely lacking now.”

Lawmakers have until the end of May to craft a budget. If Democrats, who control state government, miss the deadline, Republicans get more power because their votes would be needed to approve the budget.

Meeting that deadline could prove especially tough this year, as lawmakers are juggling big spending cuts with the tough task of redrawing political district boundaries for themselves and Congress, as well as school reforms and controversial changes to the workers' compensation system.