Chicago School Board Passes CPS Budget, Property Tax Hike

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 25, 2011 2:00PM

You're getting a property tax hike, homeowners. The Chicago School Board unanimously approved that tax hike, part of the now ratified budget that also includes $400 million in cuts for the upcoming school year and the possibility of hundreds of layoffs.

All that and dipping into reserve funds to balance this year's budget still doesn't alleviate concerns about the school system's long-term fiscal future. Assuming current expenses remain static, CPS staff say escalating pension and health care costs will contribute to a projected $860 million deficit for 2014. The Civic Federation also cited this ticking time bomb as something to be very concerned about in their endorsement of the budget.

CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard formally offered his proposal for a 2 percent pay raise to elementary teachers in exchange for extending the school day by 90 minutes, effective in January. By the time Brizard emailed Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis with the offer, CTU members, who likely heard about or watched Brizard's appearance on Chicago Tonight Tuesday night, were breathing down Lewis's neck to reject the offer, which equates to $3 an hour.

Lewis admitted her rank-and-file aren't happy with the offer and suggested it "would have been nice" if Brizard made it while the two sides were still negotiating the 4 percent pay raise the School Board rescinded in June. A veteran union delegate told the Sun-Times the pay raise may also not fly because it would place the salaries of elementary teachers above that of their high school counterparts.

The School Board did find time to make two new hires, according to the Bright One.

(B)oard members approved the hiring of Oliver Sicat to the new $162,500-a year position of Portfolio Officer, charged with developing a long-term strategy for facilities planning. Sicat is the director and a founder of Noble Street Charter School’s UIC College Prep campus. Also, Jamiko Rose, executive director of the community group Organization of the North East, was hired to the new $152,000 position of Chief Family and Community Engagement Officer.

The school budget calls for cuts for more than 500 teachers and school workers, many of them focused on the kids who need it most. School Board officials added the caveat they could be hired back thanks to discretionary funding.