Illinois school districts are still waiting for long-promised new revenue since Gov. Rod Blagojevich has not signed into law the budget implementation (BIMP) bill that was sent to him Nov. 5. Until Senate Bill 783 is signed, none of the new education funding appropriated in the FY 2008 budget, including a $400 per pupil increase in the foundation level and $26 million more in higher education funding, can be distributed to local school districts, colleges and universities. Funding for all programs continues at FY 2007 funding levels, wreaking havoc on budgets built on promised revenues.

Although the governor is allowed 60 days to act on the bill before it automatically becomes law, the IFT believes that he should put an end to the delay and immediately sign SB 783 into law. Please contact the governor and urge him to sign the BIMP bill.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I urge you to immediately sign Senate Bill 783, the Budget Implementation Bill (BIMP) for schools, so that Illinois schools can receive the desperately-needed new dollars that were included in the Fiscal Year 2008 budget approved by the Illinois General Assembly.

A report released by the Illinois State Board of Education reveals that schools are receiving almost $34 million less in state aid per month than appropriated to them in the FY 2008 budget because a BIMP bill has not been signed into law. This funding is vital to our schools and any further delay only causes them greater financial harm.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
December 10, 2007