Conroy Supports Budget Stopgap Measure to Ensure Schools Open on Time, Keep Critical Services Afloat

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, released the following statement after the passage of a stopgap measure that funds education and critical services:

“The progress that we made today only came after a special interest agenda that has held our most vulnerable hostage was set aside. This partial year budget is not a solution to our state’s fiscal challenges, but it will protect disabled children, the elderly, and fully fund our local schools. Much more work remains to be done.

“The measure I supported provides nearly $2 million in additional full-year funding for our local schools and ensures that they will be able to open on time this fall. I have continuously supported additional funding for our classrooms, especially since so many families move to and stay in the community because our schools are among the best in the state. It’s vital to ensure that we are properly investing in our children’s future.

“Throughout negotiations I fought to protect critical services that have been endangered for several months. Mental health services, Meals on Wheels, breast cancer screenings for women, and other critical services will be funded with this budget. Additionally, this budget contains funding for universities and MAP grants for low-income students to ensure that our colleges can continue to operate, students will be able to continue their education and middle-class families will be better equipped to afford the costs of college.

“The bipartisan stopgap budget passed today is not perfect, but it provides vitally important funds that our communities desperately need. I continue to support a balanced approach to the state budget that includes spending reductions while protecting middle-class families and our most vulnerable citizens from devastating cuts to the programs that they rely on. I am hopeful that the progress made today can be used to address the long-term challenges facing our state. I remain committed to growing our local economy and working toward a bipartisan, balanced budget.”

# # #