Emanuel looks to Springfield session for CPS money

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Monday offered no clues on how he will attempt to come up with the cash locally to fund Chicago Public Schools, saying he will spend the next few weeks trying to pry education money out of Springfield.

Emanuel's comments were the latest example of his administration trying to keep the focus for CPS' financial problems on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and state lawmakers.

City officials say the budget this year is short $129 million — even after CPS made late-year spending cuts in the wake of Rauner's veto of $215 million in pension funding. Those officials also say the state is $476 million behind in making aid payments to the district.

The Emanuel administration has canceled briefings for aldermen on how the mayor plans to come up with the money, and now the mayor wants to let the spring session play out to see how education funding shakes out.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-school-funding-springfield-met-20170515-story.html