Illinois Budget: Illinois State Board of Education Finance Committee Launches in Chicago Next Week 1st of 6 Budget Hearings

(Chicago, IL) – October 13, 2010. The Illinois State Board of Education’s Finance and Audit Committee is launching in Chicago next week its first of six public budget hearings across the state to help shape budget recommendations that will be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly in January 2011.

The Committee wants hearing participants to identify their education funding priorities and suggest any solutions regarding the state’s current $13 billion budget deficit, which Comptroller Dan Hynes expects to rise to $15 billion next year, and regarding the $1 billion backlog of payments owed by the state to local schools.

“Public feedback is important in the budget making process because it provides insight into local priorities and puts a face to the more than two million students served through our state education budget,” said State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago), a committee member.

The dates and locations for the committee’s fiscal year 2012 budget hearings are:

• Monday, October 18, 2010 – 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. – Chicago – Room 16-503,James R. Thompson Center, 100 West Randolph Street, Chicago
• Wednesday, October 27, 2010 – 3 to 5 p.m. – Springfield – ISBE Office, 4th floor Board Room, 100 N. First Street, Springfield
• Wednesday, November 3, 2010 – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Mundelein – Carl Sandburg School Multipurpose Room, Mundelein S.D. #75, 855 W. Hawley Street, Mundelein
• Monday, November 8, 2010 – 3 to 5 p.m. – Belleville – St. Clair County Regional Office of Education, 1000 S. Illinois Street, Belleville
• Monday, November 15, 2010 – 4 to 6 p.m. – DeKalb – DeKalb County Regional Office of Education, 2500 N. Annie Glidden Rd., DeKalb
• Tuesday, November 30, 2010 – 4 to 6 p.m. – Champaign – Champaign Public Library, Robeson Pavilion, Room C, 200 W. Green Street, Champaign

Is “let’s say a prayer” an acceptable budget recommendation?