The latest source of money that is not going to schools comes from the decades-old corporate personal property replacement tax. Illinois’ Department of Revenue says there will be $300 million less for schools in the state this year.

5,000 fewer for Illinois.

“If we were running for any county office, we’d focus voters on the grossly unfair property valuation system that Berrios oversees as county assessor. We’d focus voters on the Tribune series that, four months ago, detailed how that system disadvantages poor and often minority homeowners. We’d focus voters on the slow-mo review of Berrios’ unfair system — a review County Board President Toni Preckwinkle promised more than three months ago.”

As with the rest of the state, the Peoria area has seen a drop in the unemployment rate since last year, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. However, the number of local non-farm jobs went down, IDES said.

Although the city’s revenue is growing, it cannot keep pace with its spending. The result is what Eklund calls a structural deficit. Sales tax revenues have rebounded, but have not returned to levels seen before The Great Recession and revenues overall are growing at about 2 percent a year. Meanwhile, pension and employee costs continue to climb and expenses are growing at about 3 percent annually.