What CPS' 2012 Budget Means For Rahm
The proposed budget plan by Chicago Public Schools is facing backlash from educators and city aldermen -- all while leaving Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a difficult position.
The ambitious proposal for 2012, which was unveiled Friday, seeks to close the district's $712 million gap by raising property taxes and calling for millions in cuts.
The budget calls for a total of $87 million through cuts to everything from central office personnel, teachers, bilingual education, police patrol, bus routes, after school programs and academic programs for low-performing schools. The $5.91 billion budget would use up the $241 million in reserve funds and gain $150 million by raising the property tax to the maximum legal limit.
According to a Sun-Times report, that would be an additional $84 a year, or $7 a month, for the average home worth $250,000. Many aldermen are publicly rejecting the proposal, including aldermen Bob Fioretti (2nd Ward), chairman of the Education Committee; Latasha Thomas (17th Ward); Nick Spostato (36th Ward); and Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward). The property tax increase, they say, is coming at a time when home foreclosure rates in the city are already blighting communities and those still afloat are dealing with a frail economy.
Educators are also voicing their displeasure. Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis called the proposal “distorted by errors and misplaced priorities” and slammed CPS officials for the late notice. Lewis said she will ask CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard to put the budget on hold for a more thorough review since it was released less than a week before budget hearings were to begin.
What does this mean for Emanuel? First, Brizard's proposal would keep class sizes the same and does not include money for a longer academic year or school day, something that has been pushed by Emanuel as one of his administration's top priorities. Second, the mayor has confirmed he does support the property tax hike for CPS, despite his public promise last week for no tax hikes, police cuts or one-time revenue shortcuts as the city government works through an unprecedented budget gap that is expected to hit $790 million.
