CIVIC FEDERATION CONTACT: [email protected]
CHICAGO —The Civic Federation is encouraged that Chicago Public Schools' proposed FY2027 budget appears to move towards more sustainable fiscal practices. Choosing not to finance today's operating costs with tomorrow's dollars is an important step toward strengthening the District's long-term financial position.
The coming weeks will likely bring calls to replace these difficult choices with additional one-time resources or other temporary solutions. District leadership and the Board of Education should resist that temptation. Relying on uncertain revenues or short-term borrowing to support ongoing operating costs would only postpone difficult decisions and leave the District more vulnerable as it faces continued fiscal uncertainty and revenue volatility in the years ahead.
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