Temporarily breaking a yearlong impasse over state spending, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed stopgap budget bills that clear the way for public schools to open on time this fall.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports the budget will enable the state to keep operating for the next six months. The plan includes $1 billion in funding for universities, community colleges, student grants and other educational programs. About $655 million will go to nine state universities.
The appropriations bill also includes a $250 million equity grant for low-income school districts; Chicago Public Schools will get $100 million of that grant.
WLS-TV reports that Rauner also signed legislation that allows Chicago to raise property taxes to help pay for Chicago Public Schools teacher pensions.
Illinois had gone nearly an entire year without a spending and revenue plan, and without funding in place, school districts might not have been able to open for 2016-17.
"This is not a budget, this is not a balanced budget, this is not a solution for our long-term challenges," Rauner said. "This is a bridge to reform.
Video from WLS-TV:
