CHICAGO, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Chicago's school system needs pension reform, union concessions and job cuts to close next year's projected $1 billion deficit, the schools chief says.
Unless all three steps are taken, Ron Huberman said, the school system will have to increase class size, lay off teachers and cut important programs, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday.
Chicago began the current school year with a $500 million budget deficit.
To balance this year's budget, the district laid off 536 employees, mandated six furlough days for non-union staff members and trimmed millions of dollars for programs.
On Thursday, Huberman, the school system's chief executive officer, announced another three weeks of furlough days and 600 more layoffs for non-union staff, saying those actions would save $25 million.
In the next school year, Chicago faces teacher pay increases of $169 million along with $587 million in catch-up pension costs.
Huberman says he's hoping state lawmakers will grant Chicago a reprieve on the pension funding.
