Summary of the Governor’s Budget Address

2/23/2012

Quinn’s Budget Axe Spares Education

Education funding at all levels will be roughly flat in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, while the budget axe will fall on Medicaid and state agencies under a fiscal plan unveiled by Governor Pat Quinn during his budget address February 22, 2012.


K-12, Higher Ed “Flat Funded,” Extra for MAP and Early Childhood

For K-12 education, state money for General State Aid and Transportation remain the same as last year. The governor prioritized Early Childhood Education, proposing a 5.8 percent increase ($20 million) in FY 2013.  Regional Offices of Education (which Quinn threatened to close last year by vetoing their salaries) are fully funded this year in the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) budget. School construction was Quinn priority, with the governor reading a long list of local school districts that are receiving building grants under his proposals.

University and Community College operations will also be flat funded plus an additional $50 million, with a 12 percent increase in Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants for tuition assistance.

State Agencies Face 9 Percent Cut; Pension and Medicaid “Reforms” on the Table

Governor Quinn said he will seek a 9 percent cut in most state agency operations and Constitutional offices where 2,000 IFT members are employed. Among the numerous facility closings announced by Quinn are four vehicle garages employing members of the Illinois Federation of Public Employees (IFPE), Local 4408. The governor’s plan would make no reductions in headcount at ISBE, which employs IFT members in the Illinois Federation of State Office Educators (IFSOE), Local 3236.

The governor called for changes in pension funding but offered no specific funding levels. He also said a $2 billion deficit must be eliminated from the state’s Medicaid healthcare program for low income citizens.

IFT President Dan Montgomery issued a press statement in response to the budget address, and the IFT will continue to thoroughly review the massive budget to determine how it may impact members. Check the Legislative Update section for the latest details.

The complete budget proposal and a summary report may be viewed here.