Rauner wants $300 million bump for K-12 schools
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner wants a $300 million increase to K-12 school funding next year while calling for cuts elsewhere.
Rauner told lawmakers Wednesday in his first budget address that he wants a 6.7 percent boost in general state aid, which is state funding which takes care of basic costs of educating students. A decrease in funding to higher education is also expected to offset the bump.
Rauner says his budget proposal "presents an honest path forward."
Increasing funding for state schools was one of Rauner's chief campaign promises as he successfully challenged former Gov. Pat Quinn last year.
The state faces a $5.7 billion budget gap next year after the expiration of the state's temporary income tax increase.
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