Could state's bus funding plan hurt suburbs?

SPRINGFIELD — Suburban lawmakers are raising concerns that the Illinois House's education budget plans could cause problems for school bus systems.

The budget plan pending on the House floor calls for an increase in funding over this year, but still a big cut over previous years, they said.

“Transportation was the money they were playing games with,” said Rep. Rosemary Mulligan, a Des Plaines Republican.

It's part of the reason Rep. Sandy Cole, a Grayslake Republican, voted against the plan during a hearing this week.

“The transportation is just a huge cut,” she said.

Lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn cut funding for buses about in half this year, and districts have had to cope. The House's budget would spend more this year on buses, but still significantly less than previous years.

This year, the state is sending about $270 million to schools to pay for transportation. The House's proposal would send about $295 million. But that's far less than the $351 million in funding for the 2009-10 school year.

That means, from the perspective of some local districts, the proposed budget would still feel like a cut, Cole said.

“It depends on what number you look at,” she said.

The House's schools plan would cut the general aid to schools by more than 3 percent. But that cut doesn't have as much impact in many suburban school districts that, unlike some downstate districts, take in significant more in local property taxes by comparison.

Still, Mulligan voted for the budget plan, saying that in tough budget times, the House proposal might be as good a shake as the suburbs can expect.

“I might as well vote for the best deal we can get,” she said.

The Senate continues to debate its own budget plans but hasn't touched the controversial schools yet.

Quinn was critical Wednesday of the House plan, saying budget cuts shouldn't come at the expense of schools.