Illinois Budget: Illinois Owes Illinois School Districts $725 Million

(Springfield, IL) — February 22, 2010. The Illinois budget crisis monster is claiming another victim: local schools.

From Amanda Reavy at the Springfield State Journal-Register:

Illinois state government’s backlog of bills associated with kindergarten through 12th grade schools totals about $725 million, according to Carol Knowles, spokeswoman for Comptroller Dan Hynes.

The backlog consists of grants for the following categories: $372 million for special education, $153 million for transportation, $5 million for breakfast/lunch, $5 million for summer school, $25 million for textbooks and $164 million for all others.

Despite this staggering sum, expect Illinois lawmakers to ignore  it.

The Illinois General Assembly will likely declare “defeat” in its battle against the Illinois budget crisis, hand-off the mess once again to Governor Pat Quinn, and adjourn the legislative session earlier than expected.

Schools, you are on your own.