Illinois Governor Pat Quinn approved a supplemental spending bill this week for the budget year ending June 30th.
The $1.8 billion package pays down some of the state’s overdue bills. It also allocates a small amount of money required to obtain federal disaster funds following the November tornadoes that hit Washington, Gifford, and other Illinois towns.
Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) says it also spends $47 million dollars for weather-related road work.
“This was for costs associated with the very heavy winter we had — for paying road crews, for maintenance of equipment, for purchase of salt and other supplies," Harris said.
Also on Monday: Quinn signed legislation requiring charter schools to follow state laws for special education students, and for those learning to speak English.