The Chicago Public Schoolboard voted unanimously to pass the coming year's nearly $6 billion school budget. This despite cries from many observers that it relies on a dangerous gimmick to help close a nearly $1 billion budget gap. The budget passed by a 6-0 vote. Board member Deborah Quazzo was not present.

The fiscal year 2015 budget is $5.7 billion, a $164 million increase from the fiscal year 2014 budget of $5.5 billion. CPS attributes the increase to about $86 million in salary increases, a result of collective bargaining agreements. A $34 million increase in pension payment, almost $16 million for the first year of the multi-year commitment to arts and physical education teachers, and $2 million in expansions for the International Baccalaureate programs were also cited as cause for the increase.

View a breakdown of the budget.

Read the Official FY2015 Budget Documentation.

The Civic Federationexpressed disappointment in the new budget, calling it shortsighted and warning it will leave the school system in financial peril in years to come.

“It’s using an accounting gimmick to balance a nearly billion dollar budget deficit for 2015,” said Sarah Wetmore, vice president and research director for the Civic Federation. “They’re increasing spending even though they have decreasing revenues. It’s going to make the budget situation, which was already bad, worse in future years.”

Additionally, many Chicago Public Schools could expect a major blow from the new budget. Seeing as funding for each school is based on student enrollment, this year’s budget will provide almost $72 million to schools.