Chicago Board of Education to vote on $5.4 billion budget

(CHICAGO) The Chicago Board of Education is expected to vote on a $5.4 billion budget that will include increased property taxes.

However, advocacy groups are expressing opposition to the spending plan scheduled to be approved Wednesday.

A business-backed watchdog group called The Civic Federation says it can’t back the budget because it relies on money from the state that may not materialize and a large amount of borrowing.

The assumed windfall in state funds totals $215 million to help cover teacher pensions. The business group says the school board must account for how it would close a funding gap if that money gets caught up in the state Capitol.

Chicago Public School CEO Forrest Claypool says if the state doesn’t come through, the district will have to cut money from classrooms.

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