The Illinois Legislature is scheduled to hold a special session next week to vote on the proposed FY 2014 budget, and school-bus operators hope that the most recent forecasts come to fruition for the health of state funding of student-transportation programs come to fruition
Gov. Pat Quinn originally proposed funding of $60 million, or about 19 cents on the dollar, for regular and vocational student transportation. But the latest word out of Springfield has transportation funded back at the FY2013 level of $205.8 million, which is close to about 76 percent of full funding needed by districts statewide. However, the transportation budget was cut each of the previous two years, and many school districts have already been slashing their budgets in anticipation of less state money. Meanwhile, a separate ine item for special-education transportation reimbursement stood at about $450 million, or about 99 percent of full funding.
Vicki Mattson, executive director of the Illinois Association for Pupil Transportation, added that she, too, had heard rumors that the transportation budget might not be as bad as was originally expected. Still, most districts have been preparing for the worst.
“You don’t wait till last minute to do your budget, either,” she said regarding the new fiscal year that begins July 1.
Among the budget-cutting measures being taken by districts are the lenghtening of school-bus routes as well as walk distances to and from school, Mattson said. But for special-education routes, “there’s not a lot you can do about that.”
Transportation appears to be fairing better than the general state aid for education, which at this report stood at 89 percent of full funding levels. If that figure remains after next week, it would mark the first time general education funding fell below the 100-percent level.
During next week’s special session, the legislature will also be taking on state pension reform amid the downgrade of Illinois credit score last month.
