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CAT Tracks for August 6, 2010
THE IRONY OF IT ALL |
On the same day that the State of Illinois cuts its revenue by giving consumers a sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping, we receive word that it is cutting back-to-school bus transportation...'cause it ain't got no money!
So later this month...
All those new school clothes...all dressed up and no where to go, or, more correctly, no way to get there?
Better play it safe and get the kids some new, comfortable walking shoes...
From the WSIL TV Channel 3 Website...
School Bus Funding Cut Statewide
By: Jeff Stensland
POPE COUNTY -- School districts prepare for deeper budget cuts. This time, it could affect bus service for your child. The state is cutting $311 million dollars in education funding.
"We haven't even got all of our money from last year," Pope County Superintendent Rob Wright said. "This is just going to add to the problem."
Gov. Pat Quinn, D-Illinois, decided to cut more $575.8 million from the Department of Human Services. Medicaid will lose $216 million. Within the Department of Education, Quinn cut $146 million in student transportation services.
Some school districts in southern Illinois say they should be able to get through this next school year with some reserve funds. Others are worried bus routes may have to be reorganized or eliminated.
Rob Wright just took began as Pope County Superintendent Monday. Already, he is crunching numbers, trying to figure out how he can get through the next year.
"There are certain things in schools that you can cut--possibly back on personnel, different things--but we have got to be able to get the kids to school," Wright said.
Pope County owns and maintains its buses, and covers 370 square miles. Virtually every route is rural. Wright learned this week he will lose more than $170,000 out of the transportation budget. Pope County is still waiting for the state to make up the $100,000 it shorted the district last year.
"With the problems that have been taking place and the late payments, our transportation fund is one of the ones that's been hurting," Wright said. "This is just going to add to the problem."
Wright says everyone will feel the cuts this year. He is trying to run the numbers and see if there is any way to keep service for everyone, and maybe consolidate routes.
Pope County is not alone. Every school district is losing 42-percent of its transportation funding.
Harrisburg superintendent Dennis Smith says that translates to a $220,000 cut. Most of his district's routes are in town, and Smith says there is money left over in his transportation fund to get through the next school year.
