Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is strongly defending the Chicago Public Schools’ plan to raise property taxes.

The $55 million property tax hike will help balance the district’s budget.

Daley says the schools can’t wait on funding from state and federal governments.

“The highest priority you have to have is schools, to educate your children,” he says. “Otherwise, you have more people go on relief. Otherwise, you have more people going to crime. Otherwise, you have all the issues you’re spending money on, taxpayer’s money for other issues, instead of really looking at the real issue, (which) is quality of education.”

This is the tenth time in the last 12 years that Chicago Public Schools have raised property taxes to the maximum allowed.