CPS CEO Defends School Budget Plans in City Council Hearing
Background
Chicago Public Schools’ highly contested budget dispute landed on the floor of the City Council in a marathon hearing on Wednesday, with alderpersons questioning schools CEO Pedro Martinez over the district’s budget shortfall and how he intends to secure more funding.
Challenges Ahead
While Martinez made the case for a slew of new revenue options for both this year and the long term, Council members admonished CPS’ lack of a plan for the end of pandemic relief funding this year.
"We all knew that this day was coming, and so we’re getting here to this day, and we’re still sitting here with unanswered questions around what’s the plan going forward," said 46th Ward Ald. Angela Clay, vice chair of the Council’s Committee on Education and Child Development, which called the hearing.
Short-Term Solutions
In the short term, Martinez reiterated his proposal for an unprecedented $484 million in tax increment financing surplus dollars to help fill an operating budget deficit this year. That would take money out of development funds to help both the city and schools budgets.
Long-Term Solutions
For more sustainable solutions, Martinez called on Council members to join him in Springfield to push for more state funding. And he advocated for state legislation that would allow CPS to pursue taxes through ballot referendums for repairing, renovating, and modernizing school buildings – a change that would free up more of the district’s budget to spend on staffing and programs.
Ongoing Challenges
The committee had invited Martinez and both the outgoing and new Board of Education members to the hearing to discuss the school system’s budget concerns. However, no board members showed up. All seven members announced their resignations earlier this month, and the mayor appointed six replacements a few days later.
A Call to Action
Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th), chair of the Education and Child Development Committee, kicked off the meeting, urging alderpersons to "talk about solutions" and not resort to hostility.
"I hear everything else but how we’re going to get this budget together," Taylor said. "And let’s not act like it’s all on Pedro," she added, naming former CPS CEOs whose decisions she said contributed to the current shortfall.
The Plan
Martinez said CPS needs the unprecedented TIF surplus – which would more than double last year’s record surplus – to help pay a $175 million pension payment for non-teacher school staff, plus another estimated $150 million for new collective bargaining agreements with the Chicago Teachers Union and a new principals union.
Consequences of Inaction
In response to questions, CPS officials stressed that staffing or programming cuts are not viable options because increased investments in schools have driven reading and math growth since the pandemic. Martinez said even more funding is needed to keep supporting the city’s high populations of students who are in poverty, have disabilities, are unhoused or are learning English.
"There is no school in Chicago that is fully funded without access to TIF, without the state being fully funded," Martinez said. "This is about really investing in our schools."
Conclusion
The meeting was marked by a willingness to explore new revenue options and a desire to address the budget concerns facing Chicago Public Schools. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the future of public education in Chicago hangs in the balance.
FAQs
Q: What is the current budget deficit facing Chicago Public Schools?
A: The district is facing an operating budget deficit.
Q: What is TIF surplus funding?
A: TIF (Tax Increment Financing) surplus funding is a local funding source for Chicago Public Schools.
Q: What is the plan to address the end of pandemic relief funding?
A: The district is exploring new revenue options, including tax increment financing surplus dollars and seeking state funding.
Q: What does the future hold for education in Chicago?
A: The future of public education in Chicago remains uncertain, with many challenges ahead, including securing adequate funding to support students and staff.
