The Fiscal Year 2008 (FY08) proposed budget will increase education funding by nearly $600 million to $10.5 billion, making this the largest single-year increase in state history, increasing the per-pupil foundation level for General State Aid by $400 per student. My efforts resulted in the inclusion of $5 million for gifted education, which has not received state funding for the past five years. Early childhood Education is budgeted for a $20 million increase as well.

Very important for our suburban school districts are the increases to 100% in reimbursement rates for Special Education and Categoricals with a proposed additional cost of $140 million. The proposed budget increases the special education personnel reimbursement rate for certified personnel form $8,000 to $9,000 per year and for non-certified personnel from $2,800 to $3,500 per year - a rate that has not been increased since 1985.

In addition to increasing funding for schools, I voted to fully fund the state's obligation to the Teachers' Retirement System to meet our FY08 obligations with an increased amount of $296 million. The budget also increases the Monetary Award Program by $26.8 million to help students pay for college.

The budget passed by the General Assembly includes $50 million in new funding for human services and public health to make up for cuts in federal spending, and to help seniors and individuals with disabilities who require medical assistance receive care at home instead of in an institutional setting. A 2.5% cost of living adjustment has been proposed for community based providers serving individuals with developmental disabilities.

Other health care expansions include increased funding for community health centers and breast and cervical cancer screenings, and new funding for AIDS and suicide prevention and a post-traumatic stress disorder outpatient program for returning veterans.

The proposed budget include $34 million for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development fund (OSLAD); $15 million for the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF). I am so pleased that the proposed budget appropriates $11 million more than last year for OSLAD/NAAF.

Many environmental advocates have known that front line positions at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have been reduced because of the budget crisis. The FY08 proposed budget will restore 20 positions at the EPA and 45 at the DNR.

The proposed budget calls for $4 million in additional funds for AMTRAK and $20 million for sound barriers and extra lanes on I-94 scheduled as part of the Illinois Department of Transportation's five-year plan.

We will be back in Springfield, most likely the last week in August, to work on a separate transit funding solution and capital program.

There were no gaming, sales tax or income tax increases nor an increase in fees. We took advantage of 5% natural revenue growth and closing corporate loop holes. The Governor has threatened to cut $500 million from the General Assembly budget and use executive order for funding health care expansion. It is unclear which programs the Governor will cut and whether it is legal for the Governor to reallocate the budget without legislative approval.

I am not taking a position on the $500 million in cuts until I know exactly what those items are, and no one has that information yet. Stay tuned for the outcome.