Ill. Bill Seeks To Hold Line on Budget Raids From Year to Year

By Lonnie Harp

Illinois lawmakers are considering new budgeting policies aimed at countering a frequent complaint of school officials in states with lotteries: that gaming revenues do not really help education because they are matched by cuts in funding from the regular budget.

Pending legislation sponsored by Sen. Aldo A. DeAngelis, the chairman of the Senate revenue committee, would attempt to insure that general-fund appropriations for schools not fall below the previous year's level. The bill was before the Senate last week.

Any budget proposal to lower general funds for schools would have to be explained in writing by the governor. And if lawmakers agreed to appropriate a lesser amount, they, too, would...