7am News, Sports and Obits
Latest WGIL news
Click to play or
Right click and "Save Target As" to download
Click for Galesburg, Illinois Forecast
Home - Cancellations - Community Events - Contact Us - Mornings - News - Obituaries - Pictures - Programs - Special Events Audio - Sports - Weather
Schools Question Budget Cuts
Some education groups say Gov. Pat Quinn's budget cuts are inaccurate, vague, and unrealistic. Quinn laid out his line-item vetoes to the budget, along with an executive order that outlines ways to save money, most of which are already in force.

As for the budget cuts, Quinn insists that he's protecting education. But Dave Comerford, spokesman for the Illinois Federation of Teachers, says the budget is still "quicksand," because incoming revenue cannot hold up the spending levels that are left. Comerford says Quinn's estimation that his cuts will only mean $241 million less for schools is inaccurate. He says one of the major problems is the late payment cycle, which has left schools waiting for $1.4 billion for the fiscal year that ended Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Kathy Ryg, president of Voices for Illinois Children, and education advocacy group, says the budget "has a long way to go." She explains that without new money, there's no way state government can pay the bills. Ryg, who was previously a state lawmaker, says current lawmakers should not be handing the governor a lump sum budget, and should instead take responsibility for making line-by-line cuts if they're not willing to pass a tax increase.

(Illinois Radio Network)
07 02 10 by Newsroom
News management powered by Xpression News

Click here for the WGIL News Archive

Click here for national news

The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.