Mayor, leaders weigh in on CPS spending plan

CHICAGO CITY HALL (WBBM Newsradio) -- Chicago Public School leaders say they've managed to balance their proposed budget for next year without resorting to additional borrowing, but the strategies they are using are bringing mixed responses from city and community leaders.

Administrators on Wednesday released the district's proposed $8.48 billion operating budget for the 2026-27 academic year, which resorts to job cuts at the central office, as many as five mandatory unpaid days off, and a potential midyear budget freeze to close a shortfall estimated to be more than $700 million. The district also says it's planning to lay off as many as 760 teachers and 800 aides, though many may be re-hired before classes begin.

"That's a disappointment," Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said when asked about the budget after Wednesday's City Council meeting. "No, it's not the right approach. This idea or notion that the way to balance budgets is off the backs of working people and at the expense of our students ... that's not sustainable."

The former middle school teacher and Chicago Teachers Union organizer went on to direct most of his criticism at state lawmakers, and Illinois' progress in meeting the school funding formula approved in 2017 that would yield an extra $1 billion for CPS.

"This is really the result of Springfield not coming through on its promise," said the mayor. "They made a commitment per law to fully fund our schools across the state - and they haven't done it."

Mayor Johnson has long called on state leaders and Gov. J.B. Pritzker to tax businesses and wealthier people as a way to generate more money for public schools. A proposed "millionaires' tax" was not brought up for a vote in the House during the spring session when Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch determined it didn't have the votes needed.

However, the government watchdog organization called the Civic Federation issued a statement praising CPS leaders for balancing the budget without the use of additional borrowing. President Joe Ferguson, the former Chicago inspector general, said in the statement that the group is "encouraged" by the apparent move toward "more sustainable financial practices," and urged the district to avoid the temptation to rely on uncertain revenue sources.

The Board of Education must approve a budget by August 29.