The end of federal COVID relief funding leaves Illinois public services strapped for cash

Metra conductors give the all-clear at the Blue Island Metra stop. (AP/File)

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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

The end of federal COVID relief funding leaves Illinois public services strapped for cash

Chicago Public Schools and the Regional Transportation Authority – which oversees CTA, Metra, and Pace – are two of the agencies with the biggest projected shortfalls.

Metra conductors give the all-clear at the Blue Island Metra stop. (AP/File)

By Jules Yaeger

Illinois received almost $55 billion in federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now that the funding is coming to an end, the agencies that relied on it are scrambling to find the money elsewhere—or risk cutting their services.

Reset talks with reporters about the repercussions for CPS and the RTA, as well as how Chicago plans to spend its remaining COVID dollars.

GUESTS: Sarah Karp, WBEZ education reporter

Sarah Freishtat, Chicago Tribune transportation reporter

Tessa Weinberg, WBEZ city government and politics reporter