SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Because the state reimbursed District 186 less money than it was supposed to, the Springfield Public Schools’ deficit has grown $3 million.

The board Monday unanimously approved a Fiscal Year 2027 budget which now carries a nearly $11 million deficit. Business manager Steve Miller told the board the state is legally obligated to reimburse at a rate of 80 percent but instead reimbursed 68 percent for regular education and 55 percent for special education.

“When we are looking at trying to make up that deficit, the real answer is that we have to reduce jobs,” said board member Debi Iams. “There are some other alternatives, too,” responded superintendent Terrance Jordan, “and we’re looking at every way. We want to stay as far away from the classroom as we possibly can.”

Springfield Education Association president Aaron Graves said everybody knew this day was coming. “I’m honestly a bit embarrassed to sit here in the audience,” Graves told the board, “and pretend as though this were a giant Godzilla emerging from the depths of the ocean and smashing its way through the educational funding landscape into a group of otherwise unsuspecting leaders.”

The district plans to spend almost a quarter of a billion dollars in the fiscal year which began July 1.