The Funding Facts:

State Funds
Thanks to parent and community group efforts last year, the Illinois General Assembly (IGA) earmarked $1 billion for statewide school construction. Of this amount, $500 million was appropriated for FY 2003 (July 1, 2—2- June 30, 2003). Since Chicago always receives 20% of any State-funded school construction allocation, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) received $100 million, or 20% of their $512 million capital budget last year.

The remaining $500 million was also earmarked for school construction, but has not been appropriated yet for the approaching FY 2004. Last summer, one State senator argued that with money already authorized, there was no reason to deny this school construction money for FY 2004. However, that was before the State revealed a $5 billion budget deficit!

Parents, schools, community groups, and CPS all want to know:
Will the IGA appropriate $500 million for school facilities as promised, or will Springfield use these funds to balance the State budget?
The State legislature must decide whether to make these funds available in the upcoming budget.
Before schools can get the $500 million, our state legislators must pass an appropriations bill to fund the State’s School Construction Program. This bill would go to the Appropriations Committee, which has the power to vote for approval of this school construction funding.

New Local Funds
Last year, State legislation gave CPS new authority to levy a new capital project property tax, separate from CPS’ existing property tax cap. This would generate approximately $3-4 million each year with no time limit to be used specifically for CPS’ Capital Improvement Program (CIP), where already local funds contribute to 84% of CPS’ capital program. City Council must approve CPS’ use of this new taxing power.

The Decisions
Even in a time of fiscal crisis, we cannot afford to let politicians rob our neighborhoods of education and school facility funding.

It is more important than ever to inform our legislators about the existing $500 million school construction funding allocated for FY 2004—it’s up to them to do the right thing by appropriating it. This money benefits schools all across Illinois.

In a time when every dollar counts, it is increasingly important that State legislators help us hold CPS accountable to ensure that urgent facility needs are addressed before building another “boutique” school for a select few.

“No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) demands that students in failing schools have the right to transfer. In Chicago, most schools were too overcrowded to accept these children. The Federal government is saying “that is no excuse!” NCLB also demands higher test scores, yet when facilities are in disrepair, overcrowded, and lack the critical educational enhancements needed to deliver the curriculum, children’s learning is affected.

Mayor Daley has a vision to redevelop our neighborhoods. We must have one too! We can anchor our community economic development plans by investing in our neighborhood public school facilities.

Communities convince our Aldermen, the Mayor and the Board of Education to do all they can, including approving a property tax levy for school construction repair and construction, using TIF funds, and demand that developers contribute to our neighborhoods and schools.