illinois: illinois and education funding: education funding and reform: education funding: funding bias: bias: education: reform: taxes: property taxes: taxpayers: economy: politics: illinois politics: legislation: law: lawsuit: - Chicago Political Commentary

illinois: illinois and education funding: education funding and reform: education funding: funding bias: bias: education: reform: taxes: property taxes: taxpayers: economy: politics: illinois politics: legislation: law: lawsuit: - Chicago Political Commentary

Education Funding Bias in Illinois: Lawsuit Filed

In the State of Illinois, 65% of all education funding comes via property taxes. The state, meanwhile, contributes a measly 28%. Illinois' contribution ranks one of the lowest rates in the nation. Yet, Illinois is still $853.5 Million in arrears to school districts around the state.

Education Funding

Property Tax funding of school districts has long been a controversial issue. The biggest argument, against this method of funding, is that poorer communities must pay higher property taxes in order to meet the minimum cost of educating a student than the affluent ones. Each year, the state must establish a funding "foundation level". From that baseline and depending on property values, communities rely on different tax rates, along with expected state aid to arrive at the minimum cost of educating a student. This year that cost was determined to be $6,119 per pupil.

This method creates serious inequities from district to district. Homeowners in property value poor districts must pay a higher property tax rate than the more affluent districts. That disparity would seem to put this funding method at odds with our State Constitution's Equal Protection Clause. On Wednesday, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of two homeowners, Ron Newell of Cairo and Paul Carr of Chicago Heights, claiming Illinois' education funding system was discriminatory because of where they lived. It also alleges that the state is shirking its' responsibility to properly fund education by relying too heavily on local property taxes.

Scott Lasser, a partner at Sidney Austin, who is the attorney for the plaintiffs, said "It is