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Dear Senator/Representative:

The purpose of this letter is to discuss the financial impact of the State’s fiscal crisis on Somonauk School District #432. I am very concerned with the overall affect of the Illinois current budget situation on the 2009-2010 school budget and deeply concerned for the 2010-2011 school year. This will have a devastating impact on my local school district. As of today, the state owes the district $379,777 in payments.

(Personalize to the district presentation of possible reductions and the impact to students in the district. See reductions in teaches, aides, programs and services.)

The legislature has discussed cutting revenues to districts by 10% and the impact to Somonauk School District is approximately $592,000. Our district budget is about $11 million dollars and this would reduce additional revenues and therefore, additional reductions would have to be made.

The people of Illinois are in the middle of the largest State budget deficit in Illinois history. I am opposed to the legislature passing any new mandates for schools that cannot be funded, as the state can’t fund the current mandates.

Our students and schools did not create this budget problem and fixing the problem should not come at the expense of their educational progress and success. I respectfully urge you to vote “NO” to any mandates or budgetary items that fail to honor the state’s commitment to public education. I also urge you to consider all options to solve this crisis, and I look forward to seeing your support of education.

Sincerely,

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