Education may once again receive special treatment from Republican Governor Bruce Rauner. He's set to unveils his plans for the state budget later Wednesday.
Rauner is in an unprecedented position: he's required to present a plan for a new, balanced state budget when Illinois is eight months into its current fiscal year without one and is running a $6 billion deficit.
But a document from Rauner's office shows he'll again propose a windfall for pre-K through high schools.
The governor's office claims the funding bump will lay the foundation for reform of how Illinois funds schools -- a priority for leading Democrats -- though it's unclear how.
The short memo doesn't say where Illinois will come up with the extra one-and-a-quarter billion dollars. There's no mention of new taxes or other new revenue.
