Chicago Board of Education approves $10B CPS budget in a close 11–7 vote, avoiding layoffs but risking payroll delays as funding from Illinois remains uncertain.
Chicago Board of Education Approves Controversial CPS Budget Amid Payroll Concerns
Chicago’s Board of Education voted 11–7 on July 30, 2026, to approve a $10 billion budget for Chicago Public Schools (CPS), but the plan has sparked debate and uncertainty.
The budget avoids nearly 1,600 layoffs, including 760 teachers and 800 support staff, by assuming $150 million in additional state funding.
That money, however, has not yet been approved by Illinois lawmakers, raising serious concerns about whether CPS will be able to meet its September 4 payroll.
The district faces a $732 million shortfall, and officials warned that relying on unconfirmed state revenue could damage CPS’s credit rating, making borrowing more expensive.
In past years, similar reliance on uncertain funding led to midyear layoffs, furloughs, and costly borrowing.
Supporters of the amended plan, including members aligned with the Chicago Teachers’ Union, argued that passing the budget pressures Springfield lawmakers to act and prevents immediate harm to students and staff.
Opponents, including CPS leadership, cautioned that the move is risky and could result in financial chaos if the funding does not materialize.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch expressed support for supplemental CPS funding but noted that lawmakers may not reconvene until November, leaving the district in limbo.
Families and staff now face the possibility of delayed paychecks and program cuts, while the start of the school year on August 24 could be disrupted if financing is not secured.
The vote underscores the tension between short-term relief and long-term stability. While the season ahead may begin without layoffs, the financial uncertainty leaves CPS vulnerable to deeper challenges later in the year.