Illinois Lawmakers Talk Money With District 220

Members of the Barrington School District 220 Board of Education met with Illinois legislators Wednesday, June 8, to discuss a variety of topics of importance to the district.

The discussion item that generated the most conversation surrounded state payments to the school district in fiscal 2011.

“We receive four payments a year (from the state of Illinois),” explained board member Penny Kazmier. “We budget very conservatively and are trying to stay within our parameters. So when we’re making cuts and we don’t get these payments, it’s pretty devastating to our budget.”

Barrington 220 School District has received one of the four payments promised during fiscal 2011. Board members expect to receive the second and third payment, but are doubtful they will ever see the fourth.

“We want to be able to count on payments we are told we are going to receive,” Kazmier said.

State Sen. Pamela Althoff, 32^nd District, replied by explaining how money is distributed in Springfield.

“I think all of you understand that those categorical payments are one of the ways the governor is managing his cash flow. It’s not a statutory requirement to make those payments, so he’s going to do what he has to do and then everything else kind of comes in after that,” she said. “And when the money is available and the cash is there, that’s when you get it. I honestly don’t see that getting any better whatsoever.”

From there, the conversation turned to the recent amendment to the Transportation Bill. The amendment changes the amount of money each district is reimbursed by the state for busing children to and from school.

“Our regular transportation went from about $1.8 million to $136,000 without any warning,” 220 Board President Brian Battle said. “It’s the ultimate unfunded liability. We’re required to provide free transportation, and that’s how you are cutting the budget. We understand the need to cut budgets, just tell us what our reality is.”

Althoff responded with sympathy toward the situation.

“We do understand, and we’re more aware of that than you realize that we are. It pains us to sit in those seats as well and know that that’s the trickle-down effect that’s affecting the constituency. It’s just very difficult in this particular administration, and the lack of resources that we now have … we are being responsible,” she said.  

Other topics of discussion at the legislative luncheon included pension funds, the Teacher Evaluation Act and Early Retirement Option. Read about those topics later this week on Barrington Patch.