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Illinois could cut education aid by $400 million

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is expected to propose a big drop in education funding Wednesday. Governor Quinn makes his annual budget address in front of lawmake...

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is expected to propose a big drop in education funding Wednesday.

Governor Quinn makes his annual budget address in front of lawmakers. The Governor is expected to propose $400 million in reductions to general state aid. That amounts to a 9% decrease from last year's figures.

The state is expected to spend $9 billion for public employee pensions for fiscal year 2014. That is about a $1 billion increase from last year. Lawmakers blame the increased pension expenses on why there could be a cut to education programs.

This would be the third year in a row that there's a drop in funding to Illinois public schools. If approved, the state would be giving out nearly the same amount of money that it gave out in 2008.

No word on how the decrease would affect local Illinois school districts. The Moline School District for instance, already faces nearly a $4 million deficit going into the next school year.

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