WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderDist. 205 pledges reserves to cover drop in state aid

Dist. 205 pledges reserves to cover drop in state aid

By Marissa Alter

ROCKFORD (WREX) - Governor Pat Quinn's budget proposal hits school districts across Illinois hard with a proposed 17% cut to general state aid. The Rockford School District expected a drop in funding and put together the FY2011 budget with that in mind. Chief Financial Officer Cedric Lewis says Rockford will cover that by dipping into its reserves for roughly $30 million. No cuts to programs or staff would happen until the following year.

"We want to sustain our instructional initiatives. We're going to pledge the reserves to get through next year and use next year to do the harsh planning we'll absolutely have to do to get through 2012 without pledging reserves for two consecutive years."

Lewis says at this time,there are no plans to ask the public for help, but he admits nothing's completely ruled out. Illinois currently owes District 205 $11.9 million in late payments for this year.