By RFD News Network
SPRINGFIELD – While pushing for a private path forward to improve the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Gov. Bruce Rauner shook hands with and chatted some members of the State FFA. The same FFA that benefits from the ag education line item that Rauner cut in his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2017.
Rauner said that his goal is more funding for education.
“What we’re saying is, let’s not have a lot of line items dictating terms of where money gets spent,” said Rauner. “Let’s a lot more money in the schools and let the schools decide where to spend the money.
“I hope a lot of schools in Illinois put more money into agriculture, not less.”
Rauner’s budget zero’s out the line item for the second straight year, eliminating a source of funding for ag education. Funding was restored to a baseline of just over $1.8 million in FY ’16.
