Not Raising Taxes Means Fewer Chicago Jobs

A recent budget cut in the Chicago public school district will alleviate property taxes on residents, but will result in the loss of several hundred jobs. According to the Chicago Tribune, the city's Board of Education hopes to ease the stress put on area taxpayers that were effected by last fall's tax hike under Mayor Richard Daley.

In order to lower taxes after one of the greatest increases in the city's history, more than 400 Chicago jobs will be lost and over 70 schools will be expected to consolidate their bus routes. This $5.1 billion spending plan will be made possible by dipping into $100 million in reserve funds.

The Board of Education budget will be increasing by 4.3 percent this year in order to help pay for an agreed upon raise in teachers' salaries. As part of a five-year contract with educators, the Board is expected to boost teachers' pay by 4 percent each year.

The additional .3 percent increase in spending will result in an extra $40 million going towards improving high school instruction. The Board plans on creating programs to assist underperforming schools and help new freshmen get used to high school.

At a recent meeting, the president of the Civic Federation Laurence Msall stated that he approved the district's efforts to fix budget problems without adding pressure to tax payers. Despite the applause, the nonpartisan government watchdog group issued a report urging officials to come up with a detailed long-term capital improvement plan in order to analyze future proposals with consideration to declining enrollment in the district. Msall did not mention how the group he represents feels the job cuts will effect the area.