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Champaign News-Gazette: Government consolidation back on table in Springfield
Just as politics never seems to stop for long, neither does the battle over public policy.
With the Nov. 6 election in the rearview mirror, those closest to the game are already preparing for the spring 2019 municipal elections, which will be shortly followed by the 2020 contests.
Chicago Tribune: Nearly 130 Chicago Public Schools employees, including 9 teachers, ousted over background check issues
Nearly 130 Chicago Public Schools employees have been terminated, recommended for dismissal or simply resigned amid scrutiny following an enormous review of worker backgrounds prompted by a Tribune investigation this year.
That group of employees includes nine teachers, 35 people classified as classroom aides and an unspecified number of people the district lists as substitute or hourly workers, according to CPS. In addition, 124 employees are still barred from work because they have not submitted fresh fingerprints for an updated district background check.
Crain's Chicago Business: Parks chief warns of 'massive cuts, huge layoffs' as soon as 2020
On top of stubbornly high murder rates and city fiscal woes, Chicago’s new mayor will inherit another problem: a Chicago Park District budget that could implode as soon as 2020, due to pension costs.
In unveiling the parks’ proposed new budget, officials warned of a “pension cliff” that looms just over the horizon, after getting through the 2019 budget process and the city elections. If a deal cannot be struck with organized labor between now and then, “massive cuts” and “huge layoffs” will be implemented as soon as January 2020, parks CEO Michael Kelly warned in a budget briefing.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Political, Financial, Housing Issues Face Next Mayor, City Council
City Council overwhelmingly approved a 2019 budget with no major tax or fee increases – an election year tradition. But the next mayor and City Council will face rapidly rising city pension obligations. The price tag next year is $1 billion, and it’s estimated to reach more than $2 billion by 2023.
Just who that mayor will be remains to be seen. The crowded field of candidates is starting to take shape – Monday marked day one of petition filing for candidates vying for that and other municipal offices.
Daily Herald: District 211 teachers plan picket to bolster bid for new contract
The teachers union of Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 plans to picket and hold a town-hall meeting next week to try to solicit community support for the approval of a new contract.
John Braglia, president of Northwest Suburban Teachers Union Local 1211, said no strike is planned though the union would have the legal right to one as early as Dec. 13.
Rockford Register-Star: Backed by utility tax, Rockford approves balanced budget
City Council on Monday breezed through approval of a $156.8 million general fund budget for next year that holds the line on the city’s property tax levy.
It was a contrast to budget debates of previous years when aldermen were forced to institute cuts and debate new ways to generate revenue. But aldermen in March approved a new utility tax on natural gas and electricity usage that is projected to generate more than $9 million next year and the city is expected to end 2019 with a $280,670 surplus.
Belleville News-Democrat: MidAmerica renovation design contract approved, but funding is still up in the air
Airport leaders approved a $2.1 million design contract for proposed renovations at MidAmerica Airport, though a grant for the project has not yet been approved.
If the Federal Aviation Administration does not award the grant to MidAmerica Airport, the renovations will not take place, airport Director Tim Cantwell has said.