‘We won't let it stand': Chicago Teachers Union calls for state aid amid budget deficit
Now, the Chicago Teachers Union is calling on the state to step up and provide assistance.
CTU representatives spoke Wednesday about how the impact of CPS's $734 million budget deficit is starting to be felt, adding that many are concerned that they might not receive their negotiated retroactive pay until the fall.
'They must pass a budget that isn't going to shortchange our students,' said Jhoanna Maldonado.
Last month, the district laid off 161 employees and says it will not fill more than 200 positions. Although the financial picture is murky, the teachers say they won't tolerate waiting for CPS to make good on their new contract.
CTU vice president Jackson Potter was among those who spoke Wednesday, addressing concerns.
'We are not going back to Pedro Martinez' false promises that we have a significant and appropriate amount of spending to fund our contract and then we discover when the new CEO is in place that suddenly they don't have any money for libraries or librarians, suddenly they're talking about cutting special education that put them under state oversight for illegally violating the law,' Potter said.
CTU leadership is calling on the state legislature to raise taxes on millionaires and billions. But raising the income tax would require everyone to pay more.
Illinois has a flat tax system.
'We are here today calling on Governor JB Pritzker to immediately schedule an emergency session in Springfield, Illinois to address the needs of our people, whether it's health care, higher education, Medicaid, or K-12 education,' Potter said. 'These cuts are severe as they are perverse, and we won't let it stand.'
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also sees the state as part of the solution.
'It's no secret across the state of Illinois that there is still yet to be a fully funded school district; it just doesn't exist in Illinois right now,' the mayor said.
Complicating matters for CPS, Cook County has said the district's twice-a-year infusion of property tax revenue will be delayed. Some, like former CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, have suggested Chicago tap into its TIF well. Joe Ferguson, the head of the Civil Federation, says TIF is not the long-term solution, however.
'The actual amount of money that exists that isn't obligated in TIF year in and year out is significantly less than a billion dollars,' Ferguson said. 'CPS could only sweep for half of it on the basis of a decision by the city, which is supposed to make its decision on the basis of what the city may need, in a world in which we're not supposed to be sweeping TIFs at all.'
To shore up finances, Ferguson wants the city and state to rethink school spending and revenue sources. He's proposing a State Finance Authority with control over the CPS budget.
'At the end of the day, the state is going to have to be part of the solution, but right now the state does not have a responsible – fiscally responsible – grownup on the other side in CPS,' he said.
Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines
Outside control of CPS's budget could be a tough sell, as Chicago just moved to an elected School Board. Governor Pritzker has stated that he'd like to allocate more funds to education. This year, under the evidence-based funding model, the state boosted K-12 funding by more than $300 million. But CPS wants and seeks more.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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