Teacher advocates ask city hall for discretionary funds

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A group of Chicago Teachers Union advocates, including parents and retired teachers, gathered in the foyer on the second floor of City Hall with the intention of a making at statement at Friday's city finance committee meeting.

A statement that says, "We need money."

The city finance committee is meeting on the Friday and they are expected to vote on whether a certain amount of money in a taxpayer fund that's left to be spent, to some extent at the city's discretion, should be allocated to Chicago Public Schools.

"If you want good schools and city services you have to pay for them," said Bill Lamme, a retired CPS teacher.

The money they are asking for is cash out of the mayor's slush fund, money formally known as the tax increment financing funds, or TIF funds.

"They're supposed to have it go back to the community to build infrastructure and schools are infrastructure and huge pillar of communities, so it's only right kids get a big chunk of that surplus," said Huu Nguyen, a CPS parent.

Inside the council chambers these advocates will testify before the finance committee on why Chicago Public Schools desperately needs millions of dollars of money designated to better the city.

"It would probably be enough money to reverse layoffs that were implemented beginning of summer," said Lamme.

That amount adds up to about $200 million, which is the minimum that CTU is asking the city to give to the schools. There is about $600 million available in TIF funds, and school advocates are asking for as much as possible.

If the vote passes in the city finance committee on Friday, it will go on to be voted on by the entire city council.