Schools don't receive first round of state money

School districts were scheduled to get their first payment from the state for the 2009-10 school year today. The statewide payment was a total of $416 million. Like state workers, schools didn't get their money because of the budget impasse.
"Until a budget is in place, the Department of Education cannot legally authorize payments to districts, meaning the districts will have to operate without the state's share of education dollars until lawmakers approve a spending plan," Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak said in a news release.
The next monthly payment is scheduled for Aug. 27 and would total more than $876 million.