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Deficit

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Quinn Proposes Suspending Local Government Payments to Cover States Debt

Local government money could be used to pay old bills, according to Illinois Statehouse News.

SPRINGFIELD —Gov. Pat Quinn suggested a new way to pay off the $4.5 billion the state owes by  suspending payment to local governments, according to Illinois Statehouse News. Quinn proposed halting the Local Government Distributive Fund, which designates a portion of state taxes to local municipalities. The LGDF money would eventually be sent out after the state bills are paid off. “Our goal is to pay the bills and we need the General Assembly's support to make this happen,” Kelly Kraft, Quinn’s Office of Management and Budget spokeswoman told Statehouse. While the governor has proposed the idea, lawmakers would still have to approve the payment delay.   The above article is from Illinois Statehouse News. Stay tuned to Patch for …

Thursday, November 18, 2010

District 39: German out; Class Time Down; Music Gets More Expensive

Wilmette District Proposes Deep Cuts, Fee Hikes in Bid to Half $5.6 Million Deficit

The Wilmette Public School Board District 39 is considering a set of budget cuts and and fee hikes to close about half of its projected $5.6 million budget deficit. Under the proposed cuts, the district would lay off teachers, increase class sizes, reduce class hours and freeze administrative salaries. Together, the potential 2012 budget reductions total about $1.8 million, leaving a $3.4 million gap. "We've reached the end of just tightening our belts," said Superintendent Ray Lechner. "Now we're recommending some things that will affect kids." Also under consideration are trimming class times, eliminating German from the curriculum, reducing the number of librarians and increasing the average class sizes to 26 to 30 students, up from …

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