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Galesburg Superintendent Skeptical of Proposed Increases

T.J. Carson

Galesburg’s superintendent is cautiously optimistic about a proposed increase in K-12 funding.  But he also is skeptical the full amount will come.

Governor Bruce Rauner suggested a $300 million increase in his budget address.  Galesburg Superintendent Bart Arthur said the amount of the increase surprised him.  But he said past experiences have prepared him to not expect the full amount.

“Last couple years they said, 'Well we’re going to get you to this minimum level of $6,119 dollars per pupil.'  And yet, they’ll give us a budget and then toward the end they’ll say 'Well we’re going to have to prorate it up to 85%.'  That’s the thing that scares me,” Arthur said.

Arthur said the district could balance its budget if it receives the full amount proposed in the governor's speech.  But he's worried the state will choose to burden schools with more expenses

“The pension costs will either come to schools or to employees.  And so the gain that we get in one side, gets taken away in another,” Arthur said.

Arthur also said he was concerned about proposed cuts to regional safe schools, and how that would impact students in those schools.