As contract negotiations between the Chicago Public School District (CPS or the “District”) and the Chicago Teacher’s Union (CTU) continue, how to pay for the increases in salaries and other contract demands remains an outstanding question. One idea CTU representatives have suggested is using CPS’ general fund balance or reserve funds. In its fiscal year (FY) 2024 financial audit, the District…
Executive Summary The Chicago Public School District (CPS or the “District”) faces a critical financial juncture, highlighted by structural budget imbalances, rising expenditures, declining enrollment, significant near-term infrastructure investment needs, and substantial long-term liabilities. A new 21-member Board of Education (the “Board”), partially elected for the first time, inherits…
The Chicago Public School District (CPS) faces a critical financial juncture, as outlined in a Civic Federation report released today. The newly expanded 21-member, hybrid-elected Board of Education (the “Board”) faces a confluence of financial challenges immediately upon taking office on January 15, 2025, as evidenced by discouraging trends that jeopardize the District’s ability to provide…
The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) FY2025 proposed budget total of $9.9 billion presents a temporary solution to a long-term structural financial problem. The plan as presented manages to close a $505 million budget deficit through a series of strategies, including operational reductions and efficiencies, without resorting to irresponsible fiscal practices like issuing debt to fund operations or…
CPS’ FY2025 proposed budget is incomplete at a time when the District faces enormous fiscal challenges both in the short-term, due to unsettled teacher contracts, and in the long-term given next year’s even-larger fiscal deficit. CPS must urgently work with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive, long-term plan to stabilize its finances.
In an analysis released today, the Civic Federation expressed significant concern about the escalating fiscal challenges facing Chicago Public Schools as it votes to approve its FY2025 proposed budget and works to finalize its teacher contract. CPS is spending the last of its federal COVID relief funding at a time when costs associated with personnel and collective bargaining agreements are…
At the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education’s monthly board meeting in October, the CPS Office of Finance updated the Board on the District’s current financial status and the FY2025 budget forecast. The District is expecting to see a $391 million budget shortfall next fiscal year once the remaining $300 million of federal COVID relief dollars are spent. The District has received a…
The Federation urges the District to develop a long-term financial plan as costs continue to rise and a financial cliff looms. Click here to visit the report landing page.CHICAGO – In an analysis released today, the Civic Federation expressed significant concerns about the long-term viability of Chicago Public Schools’ finances. While the District’s $9.8 billion FY2024 budget is stable due…
Click here to read the full report.Click here to read the press release for this analysis.SUMMARYThe Civic Federation continues to have significant reservations about the long-term viability of the District's finances. The CPS budget of $9.8 billion for the coming year is stable due to a combination of federal COVID-19 relief funds and local tax sources, including a property tax increase to the…
With the upcoming implementation of an elected school board to oversee Chicago Public Schools, the governance of CPS will be separated from the City of Chicago. The 21-member elected school board, set to replace the existing seven-member board appointed by the Chicago mayor, will be phased in beginning in 2025, with the fully elected board in place beginning in 2027. The separation raises…
