SPRINGFIELD â Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday that Illinois will enter the âbridgeâ phase to full reopening on Friday, May 14. And barring any reversal of current trends, Phase 5, or full reopening, will begin June 11.
He also announced that residents can now obtain COVID-19 vaccines from their physiciansâ offices, rather than just designated vaccine sites, as public health officials continue to confront hesitancy within many communities to accept the vaccines.
Thursdayâs announcement came as the state reached a new benchmark of having 55% of adults age 16 and over, and 80% of people age 65 and over, having received at least one dose of vaccine, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, the daily number of new cases, hospitalization rates and intensive care unit usage have all been falling or leveling off.
Pritzker now says budget can include added $350 million for schools Gov. J.B. Pritzker, pcitured Tuesday at Chicago s McCormick Place, said Thursday that he supports increasing K-12 school funding by $350 million. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times
Capitol News Illinois
Updated 5/6/2021 5:03 PM
SPRINGFIELD Citing an improved economic outlook, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday his support to increase evidence-based education funding in the state by $350 million in fiscal year 2022, which begins July 1.
In his February budget proposal, Pritzker originally proposed flat spending for education, citing financial uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It would have been the second consecutive year in which the state failed to add $350 million to the funding formula a number written into state statute as a goal aimed at driving new money to the districts that are furthest from funding adequacy.
SPRINGFIELD â Citing an âimprovedâ economic outlook, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday his support to increase evidence-based education funding in the state by $350 million in fiscal year 2022 which begins July 1.
In his February budget proposal, Pritzker originally proposed flat spending for education, citing âfinancial uncertaintyâ amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It would have been the second consecutive year in which the state failed to add $350 million to the funding formula â a number written into state statute as a goal aimed at driving new money to the districts that are furthest from funding âadequacy.â
Adequacy is based on a number of factors, including class size and local capacity to fund a school district.
Normal, IL, USA / www.cities929.com
May 7, 2021 | 1:27 PM
(The Center Square) – Thanks to better than expected tax revenues, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he now plans to fully fund the state’s Evidence-Based Funding law.
But, his plans to roll back some of the tax incentives for a school choice scholarship program continue despite the latest tax figures.
The Evidence-Based Funding law passed several years ago requires the state to increase funding for K-12 each year. In February, Pritzker prosed keeping that spending level. Thursday, he reversed course.
“Because our outlook has improved I have informed legislative leaders that I am now in a position to propose increasing evidence-based funding for schools by $350 million,” Pritzker said.
The stateâs fiscal news of late has been a whole lot better than just about anyone expected. Marchâs base general funds revenue grew by $422 million versus a year ago, mainly because of stronger than expected receipts of personal and corporate income taxes and sales taxes. That follows a growth of $330 million in Februaryâs receipts.
The revenue surge has been so rosy that some have openly wondered whether Gov. J.B. Pritzker was telling the truth last year when he warned voters that failing to approve a graduated income tax, which wouldâve eventually produced $3-plus billion a year in new revenues, would result in budget cuts or higher taxes.