July
31, 2009
To
the Honorable Members of the
Illinois House of Representative
96th
General Assembly
Today I return House Bill 2129 to the House of
Representatives with a reduction totaling $106,685,300.
House Bill 2129 appropriates funds to the
Illinois State Board of Education for fiscal year 2010. It is deeply painful
to me to be forced to make these cuts in programs which I consider critical to
the future of the State of Illinois. When we invest in the education of our
young people, we ensure decades of dividends, both economic and social. When we
are forced to limit those early investments in our children’s academic
potential, the results are felt for years to come.
Consistent with my principles, I am ensuring
that Illinois will continue to secure the maximum funding available to us
through the ARRA State Fiscal Stabilization Fund. I also will ensure that
special education and transportation services are fully funded, as requested by
the State Board of Education. Finally, despite unprecedented budget
difficulties, I will provide a $160 per student increase in the Foundation
Level, providing $6,119 per student through the General State Aid formula. I
wish that I could provide a greater increase, but I cannot in good conscience
support an increase in funding for General State Aid above the level provided
last year.
This increase is consistent with my Administration’s
ongoing commitment to provide quality education for all of the children of our
State. Increasing the foundation level is a step towards providing the
education that our children deserve. I am heartened that, by acting on this
bill today, we can take that important step.
Earlier today, I announced the allocation of
$3.4 billion in funds appropriated by the General Assembly. My allocation of
those funds includes restoration of $150 million for the Illinois State Board
of Education, including $85 million for early childhood education and $11
million for bilingual programs. By allocating these funds, I am providing only
90% of last year’s funding, but I believe I am ensuring that the State of
Illinois continues to shoulder its obligations to our most vulnerable children,
in hopes of providing them with brighter futures.
Unfortunately, even with our best efforts, the
State of Illinois simply does not have adequate funds to meet all of its
financial responsibilities in this fiscal year. Accordingly, our State’s
inadequate financial resources compel the necessary reductions I am making
today. I would add only that this action represents our very best effort to
balance our responsibilities to the next generation against the grim realities
of our State’s current fiscal condition.
Therefore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(d)
of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby reduce and return an
appropriation item included in House Bill 2129, entitled “AN ACT making
appropriations” with a reduction totaling $106,685,300.
Reductions
I
hereby reduce the appropriation item listed below and approve the amount set
forth in the “Reduced Amount” column below:
Article
|
Section
|
Page
|
Line(s)
|
Amount
Enacted
|
Reduced
Amount
|
1
|
15
|
2
|
9
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
295,743,800
|
189,058,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In addition to this specific reduction, I hereby
approve all other appropriation items in House Bill 2129.
Sincerely,
Pat
Quinn
GOVERNOR