Post by title1parent on Jun 14, 2009 7:16:42 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/opinions/1621570,2_4_AU14_EDIT_S1-090614.article
Why should taxpayers be penalized for helping schools?
June 14, 2009
With the state's financial problems dominating the agenda, Gov. Pat Quinn can be excused if other matters aren't taking priority. However, we'd like to remind Quinn there's a piece of legislation on his desk that deserves his signature.
Signing this bill will allow certain school districts to begin planning their budgets for the next school year knowing a wrong has been made right. It will put more money into the districts that need it the most. And above all, making SB 2051 law will restore some common sense to a process that has penalized taxpayers who vote to raise their own taxes to aid the education of their children.
Under existing law, once a district passes a referendum increasing its property tax rate, the state reduces general aid to that district by a certain percentage.
In the West Aurora School District, state aid declined by $10 million after voters approved a 2007 referendum that officials said they anticipated would generate an additional $14 million. Net gain: $4 million.
In its simplest terms, the bill would stop that from happening by removing referendums from the funding equation completely. If signed into law, the bill would restore full state funding to districts like West Aurora for the duration of their referendums -- in West's case, for the last two years of its tax increase, in 2010 and 2011.
We think the bill also make it easier for districts to pass referendums because they could ask taxpayers for less money knowing they won't get whacked by the state should a tax hike get approved.
"Schools use local tax referendums as a last possible option when they are in dire need of additional funding," said State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, the chief sponsor of the bill in the House. "Decreasing general state aid payments only serves to leave them in the same position they were in before looking for ways to fill budget holes."
This penalty is particularly insidious because it impacts the most poorer school districts. That's because when districts with a large tax base approve referendums, they don't lose much state aid because they didn't receive much to begin with. Not so for districts like West Aurora.
As a result, even with a referendum victory, West Aurora spent this past school year finding ways to eliminate its budget deficit.
The bill passed both chambers with near unanimous support, with numerous area lawmakers signing on as co-sponsors. Quinn has until July 17 to act.
The momentum for this bill has been generated by West Aurora Superintendent James Rydland, who lobbied for and won the support of Fox Valley legislators and the city of Aurora.
In March, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of the bill.
Mayor Tom Weisner described the current system as "pulling the rug out from under the school district," and Alderman Rick Lawrence, 4th Ward, said the penalty is "counter-productive," as it doesn't encourage people to vote for tax referendums.
Indeed, politicians of all political stripes have jumped to support this bill. We know the governor is mired in a budget mess, but we urge him to join the crowd.
Why should taxpayers be penalized for helping schools?
June 14, 2009
With the state's financial problems dominating the agenda, Gov. Pat Quinn can be excused if other matters aren't taking priority. However, we'd like to remind Quinn there's a piece of legislation on his desk that deserves his signature.
Signing this bill will allow certain school districts to begin planning their budgets for the next school year knowing a wrong has been made right. It will put more money into the districts that need it the most. And above all, making SB 2051 law will restore some common sense to a process that has penalized taxpayers who vote to raise their own taxes to aid the education of their children.
Under existing law, once a district passes a referendum increasing its property tax rate, the state reduces general aid to that district by a certain percentage.
In the West Aurora School District, state aid declined by $10 million after voters approved a 2007 referendum that officials said they anticipated would generate an additional $14 million. Net gain: $4 million.
In its simplest terms, the bill would stop that from happening by removing referendums from the funding equation completely. If signed into law, the bill would restore full state funding to districts like West Aurora for the duration of their referendums -- in West's case, for the last two years of its tax increase, in 2010 and 2011.
We think the bill also make it easier for districts to pass referendums because they could ask taxpayers for less money knowing they won't get whacked by the state should a tax hike get approved.
"Schools use local tax referendums as a last possible option when they are in dire need of additional funding," said State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, the chief sponsor of the bill in the House. "Decreasing general state aid payments only serves to leave them in the same position they were in before looking for ways to fill budget holes."
This penalty is particularly insidious because it impacts the most poorer school districts. That's because when districts with a large tax base approve referendums, they don't lose much state aid because they didn't receive much to begin with. Not so for districts like West Aurora.
As a result, even with a referendum victory, West Aurora spent this past school year finding ways to eliminate its budget deficit.
The bill passed both chambers with near unanimous support, with numerous area lawmakers signing on as co-sponsors. Quinn has until July 17 to act.
The momentum for this bill has been generated by West Aurora Superintendent James Rydland, who lobbied for and won the support of Fox Valley legislators and the city of Aurora.
In March, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of the bill.
Mayor Tom Weisner described the current system as "pulling the rug out from under the school district," and Alderman Rick Lawrence, 4th Ward, said the penalty is "counter-productive," as it doesn't encourage people to vote for tax referendums.
Indeed, politicians of all political stripes have jumped to support this bill. We know the governor is mired in a budget mess, but we urge him to join the crowd.