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Last week House Republican Leader Jim Durkin expressed optimism that current talks going on between partisan budget experts could generate movement towards a solution. At an educational event in west suburban LaGrange that he attended with Governor Rauner, Durkin discussed the need to reach budget action in order to improve prospects for sufficient school funding for Illinois public schools. While the Illinois General Assembly enacted full funding for Illinois school districts in Fiscal Year 16, this money was not part of a constitutional balanced budget and does not extend into FY17. The next fiscal year will begin on July 1, 2016, adding pressure on state negotiators to talk seriously on urgent issues of fiscal and budget reform, and Illinois job creation. General Assembly Approves $700 Million in Stopgap Human Services Funding Although the Illinois General Assembly advanced SB 2038 on Thursday, May 12, the Governor has not signed the amended measure. In addition, SB 2038 does not substitute for a constitutional balanced budget and does not meet some of the essential operating needs of the State that are also high on the public-sector emergency list right now – such as payments for the suppliers that sell food and utility services to state prisons. Negotiations continue on these serious questions and challenges. Illinois Senate Democrats Approve Changes to School Funding Formula which Include Massive Chicago Public Schools Bailout Illinois’ largest city has launched a major effort to share these burdens with the State as a whole. SB 231, described by its supporters as a rewrite of the State’s complex school aid formula, would rewrite the formula to move statewide tax money. Under the “new” SB 231 formula, net winners would include Chicago, school districts in some low-property-value suburbs of Chicago, and some Downstate districts. Downstate districts expected to win under the new funding formula are disproportionately located in the southern third of the State. All District 81 Schools lose valuable state aid dollars through this redistribution of state funding. The chart below outlines the impact on local schools:
In this latest proposal, Senator Manar offers a $241 million “Adequacy Grant” that would be distributed to school districts that are highly taxed but are still funded at a level Manar deems as inadequate. The problem is, he has not identified a revenue source for this adequacy grant money. Because he is relying on phantom money to fund grants (based on “adequacy” determined by only Manar), the first two columns on the above chart are a more realistic impact of his bill if approved. In columns three and four, Districts designated with a dash (-) would not see a change in funding IF the adequacy grant is provided. Sandack Signs “It Can Wait Pledge”
House Speaker Quick to File Suit Against Fair Maps Project Litigation against the Independent Map Amendment was filed by allies of Democratic Party Chairman and House Speaker Michael Madigan immediately after these petitions were turned in. Challenges to the amendment can question either the wording of the amendment, the signatures turned in to qualify the amendment for the November 2016 ballot, or both. Independent Map Amendment, an Illinois citizens’ organization, believes it has gathered enough signatures and that it has written a legally valid amendment that will withstand court scrutiny. Constitutional amendments, to be adopted by the voters, must get either a simple majority of the entire voting electorate or a special three-fifths majority of those voting on the question. The Independent Map Amendment would superseded the current Illinois law that allows these key maps to be drawn by politicians and well-paid political consultants. The University of Illinois and Illinois State University Announce New Entrepreneurship Pact The University of Illinois system is one of the nation’s leaders in applied research and development. The U of I system notched 299 patent applications and 97 patents granted in fiscal year 2015. During the same period, persons and firms affiliated with the U of I system granted 83 intellectual-property licenses and founded 15 new start-up companies. ISU believes that this week’s agreement will enable its researchers to gain access to some of the infrastructure utilized at UIUC to foster the development of intellectual property. State Police Say Scammers are Impersonating Police Upcoming Events in District 81
Please call my Downers Grove office at (630) 737-0504 or visit ronsandack.org to learn more about these and other events that could be added to the schedule.
Ron Sandack
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“It Can Wait” is a national movement urging drivers to visit the “It Can Wait” web site. On the site, anyone can pledge to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phone. Then, they can share their pledge via Twitter (#ItCanWait) and Facebook. The campaign started by focusing on not texting and driving. It has now expanded to the broader dangers of smartphone use behind the wheel. I would encourage everyone who uses a cell phone to download the “attdrivemode” app. This is a free safe driving app that helps prevent distractions while driving by silencing incoming alerts. The app activates when a vehicle’s speed reaches 15 mph and deactivates when speed drops below 15 mph for an extended period of time.
