Story Created:
Mar 10, 2010 at 7:52 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Mar 10, 2010 at 7:59 PM CDT
HARRISBURG, Ill. - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn says his State's $13 billion budget deficit is forcing major cuts. "We are in a crisis of historic proportions," he said.
Quinn suggested $1.3 billion in cuts for education, but said they could be avoided if lawmakers pass a 1 percent income tax increase. He says passing the tax hike will prevent the layoffs of 17,000 teachers in the coming weeks.
"That 1 percent will be enough to restore our education budget to current levels, and allow us to get caught up on some of the millions of dollars we owe to our public schools, community colleges and four year universities," said Quinn.
Quinn's proposed tax hike is drawing mixed reactions. Republican leaders call it unacceptable. Democratic house leader Michael Madigan says Illinois doesn't want a tax increase. Democratic Senate President John Cullerton says he supports the proposal.
Quinn's budget proposal is drawing strong reaction from local educators. Superintendents and principals huddled around monitors in Illinois to watch Quinn's budget speech. They're shocked he's putting most of the budget burden on students.
Tina Henson wonders what Quinn's $1.3 billion education cut means for her five children in Harrisburg schools. "I feel that is very devastating to the parents, the classes," said Henson.
Classes will likely be affected. Harrisburg leaders are prepared to cut the elementary art and music program, high school agriculture program, an exploration class in the middle school and up to eight teaching positions next year.
Here's the problem, those reductions were put in place for a 14 percent budget cut, not Quinn's 17 percent cut. "That list looked pretty good three weeks ago and in the face of a 17 percent cut, it's nothing. It doesn't get us anywhere," said Smith.
School leaders across Illinois are facing the same budget shock. Harrisburg Middle School Principal Jim Butler, "The 17 percent cut would devastate our School District as it would almost any other school district in the state of Illinois. I don't think we could survive that."
Schools will borrow money if a 1 percent income tax is not passed. Harrisburg would need at least $1.5 million next year. "I don't know where to go to get that kind of money. I guess just to the bank to borrow money for the first year to see what happens," said Smith.
A combination of loans and cuts likely coming to Illinois schools means the burden is placed on the state's smallest citizens. "I just don't understand why it has to be cut from the students from our kids," said Henson.
Smith doesn't know how to deal with numbers this big when it comes to cuts. The Harrisburg School Board will discuss more possible cuts at its next meeting March 10 at 6:00 p.m.
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Random said on Friday, Mar 12 at 10:16 AM
Get the government out of our school systems. Pay the teachers a fair wage, get rid of tenure, and for gods sake put the teachers union in it's place. The union spends as frivolously as the government. A little competition would force bad teachers out and good teachers in. Privatize education.
39121026Kilgore Trout said on Friday, Mar 12 at 6:10 AM
Perhaps after we've cut the teachers' pay, we can require them to sell their internal organs to pay down the state's debts, as well.
39109323Anonymous said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 8:53 PM
I would start with cutting teachers pay first.
39095433Rita said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 7:23 PM
Why can't the cuts be in the government offices or those that have retired from an office? What type of school do their children and grand children go to? What insurance do they have and who is paying for it?Let some of them live in the REAL WORLD for six months and then see where the cuts can be made.. Why do the children , education , the lower income families and small businesses have to foot the bill for the foolish spending of the ones that are suppose to be in office to serve ALL?
39091628MARWAR said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 1:37 PM
CUT EDUCATION AND CUT EVERYTHING THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR. FIRST WE CUT PE, THEN WE CUT THE ARTS, I GUESS NEXT WE WILL CUT MATH.
39070232Anonymous said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 12:29 PM
For the person who said teachers should only be paid when they work, that's what happens. It's a salary based on the number of days in their contract. The district just takes that amount and divides it over 12 months to spread out the money. For the person claiming they're overpaid--every successful, well-paying job requires an education. Who gives that education?--teachers! If I worked in industry and corporation with my degrees and certifications and years of experience and education, I'd be making over $100,000. However, I'm satisfied with my $35,000 a year. I do it for the love of my profession, but it helps to be rewarded for the hard work I put it. My day has never ended at 3:00 when the kids go home. And while I may not teach in the Summer, it's filled with conferences, professional developments, and college classes that I'm required to take to continue my education. It's a shame when education is always the first and easiest place to make cut.
39065661Professor Pooky said on Thursday, Mar 11 at 9:16 AM
I can't believe Illinois voters keep voting for politicians who won't stop spending. As someone said the other day, "To say that lawmakers are spending like drunken sailors is an insult to drunken sailors. At least drunken sailors stop drinking when they run out of money." I will NOT be voting for ANY incumbants in November. Get spending under control before you start asking for more taxes. --pp
39051671Just wondering said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 11:24 PM
Why is it that we can comment on issues relating to education in Illinois but not in Kentucky? I posted, or attempted to post a comment about Brent Housman's idiotic vote against the bill that would provide money to Paducah middle school for remodeling and Local 6 took the link with all the comments down so no one could see them. I guess we must have got to close to their fair-haired boy. It is beyond me how anyone could ever support Brent Housman again! I know I'll never vote for him again!!! I think it is really funny that he thought the Speaker of the House would include anything in his district when Housman voted against the bill to fund those projects. Then he had the nerve to accuse the Speaker of playing politics! If you are that naive Brent, you need to quit and let someone do that job who knows how to put their BigBoy britches on and get the job done!!!
39036606Anonymous said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 10:43 PM
YOU ARE ALL INSANE- YOU NEED TO BE A TEACHER FOR A DAY! ENOUGH SAID!
39035033Anonymous said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 10:21 PM
they only need to get paid when they work,not when they dont work.
39034107Anonymous said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 10:19 PM
All teachers do is cry about more money,ther under worked and over paid, keep crying.
39034046Shawn said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 8:55 PM
If you want to make cuts to the school systems, you need to start at the top. The salaries of some of these school administrators need to be cut back rather than raises every year. Also there is too much emphasis on sports. I participated in and enjoyed sports as much as anyone when I was in school. But now we have state of the art weightrooms and athletic facilities that cost large sums of money, and yet the teachers at some of these same schools don't have the money to buy classroom materials that they desparately need. Now really; how many students are going to make a living playing sports professionally? More of this money needs to go into our technical schools and supplies to teach our students job skills.
39030513Anonymous said on Wednesday, Mar 10 at 8:49 PM
If they increase taxes 1%, guess what? They will spend that up as well, and soon be looking for more ways to reduce the deficit. CUT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS to balance the budget! Fiscal responsibility please
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