Mulligan: Additional Funds for Education Save Funding for Vital Programs

May 31, 2003

Des Plaines, IL…State Representative Rosemary Mulligan (R-Des Plaines) commended the General Assembly on voting for an improved education funding bill that put $100 million back into funding for categorical grants.

"We fought to keep education our number one priority and we succeeded," Mulligan said. "The Governor’s original budget proposal would have decimated suburban school categorical funding."

The Governor’s budget plan included a proposal to increase per pupil spending by $250 a head, but funds for the increase are drawn from the categorical grants that amount to the only state funding many schools receive. Mulligan said many Cook County suburban legislators were concerned by the loss of funding for their school districts, prompting House Republicans to put together a plan for an additional $100 million for categorical grants.

"We worked hard to put more money back into the schools where it’s most needed," Mulligan said. "The additional money for categoricals will help our schools serve children with special needs. Our schools will never see the $250 added to the state foundation level."

The added funds will be especially beneficial to special education programs. Categorical grants for special education personnel and transportation will be fully funded under the new education budget, and many other special education programs will receive funding equal to the money received last year. Mulligan added that School Safety and Educational Implementation Block grant programs will receive $43 million under the new education budget.

For more information, please contact Representative Mulligan at (847) 297-6533.