PUBLIC POLICY Jan DeYoung

At the AAUW-Illinois Convention last weekend Ruth, Marilyn, and I heard from a very persuasive speaker, Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability in Chicago. Mr. Martire spoke about HB/SB 750, currently before the Illinois General Assembly. Briefly, this proposed legislation attempts to lift Illinois out of the bottom level of state funding for education. As many of you know, Illinois ranks 41st in providing state funds for public education, despite the fact that the Illinois Constitution of 1970 promised that the state will carry the majority of the financial burden of education our children and young adults.

Although HB/SB 750 is quite controversial, it has the backing of many groups from the League of Women Voters to the Farm Bureau, many school boards, and many teachers' organizations. If you want to read about it in more detail, just Google Illinois House Bill 750; you'll find pages of analyses from both sides.

The amount spent per pupil in Illinois ranges from less than $5000 to over $18,000; the disparity results from the inequity in property taxes. Ironically, although those in poorer areas pay a higher level of property tax, this greater amount of local effort does nothing to close the gap between rich and poor school districts. In order to create equity, HB/SB750 would increase the level of income tax for individuals from 3% to 5% of net income and for corporations from 4.8% to 8% of net income. At the same time, property taxes would be reduced. The Foundation Level for per-pupil expenditures would be brought up to the level of the highest district in the state. The current Foundation level, $4964 per child, is a number with no connection to reality, according to Mr. Martire.

Representative Brady of Bloomington-Normal said that he believes that the bill needs to be improved before he is ready to support it, but he favors the change in principle. Senator Sullivan's office said that he does support the bill as it stands now. Meanwhile, the Governor has announced that he will veto any proposed income or sales tax increases. If this sounds like "Business as Usual" in Illinois, it is! Neither Senator Sullivan nor Representative Myers' office is optimistic that the bill has a chance, not only because of the Governor's threat to veto tax increases but also because of opposition from the Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, and similar groups.

Nevertheless, we all know that something needs to be done about financing our schools. HB/SB 750 sounds like a pretty good place to begin! Maybe the place to begin putting pressure is the Governor's office!