Illinois is $1.6 billion short of the money it needs to get through the fiscal year, which ends in June.
After weeks of negotiations, Republicans and Democrats have agreed to just over two-percent cuts in most areas of state spending.
They’ll also raid a series of special funds meant to pay for everything from road building to licensing doctors.
House Speaker Michael Madigan says it could have been worse.
“This is not a perfect bill. It’s not a perfect solution. Some might say it’s not pretty. But it responds to the governor’s request. It responds to the problem. It ought to be supported," Madigan said.
The measure passed the House on a bipartisan roll call. But it still has to get through the Illinois Senate later this week.
Schools already say they don’t get enough state funding, and the latest cut won't help. Because of that, the deal includes $97 million the governor and State Board of Education can use to help schools that are desperately in need.
House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie says a school would have to have serious financial problems to qualify for the assistance.
"We've had lots of schools that have had to cut back on all manner of important, but not essential, educational activities. So I think what we're looking at here are very serious problems that could result in the stoppage of education across the board," Currie said.
Currie says the state would set up a process to determine which schools are eligible. Many Illinois school districts operate with deficits.
