Senator Bush issues statement on Education Funding Reform Plan

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) issued the following statements after today’s Senate passage of the Education Funding Reform Plan:

“We have made huge strides over the last year,” said Bush, who is a member of the Education Funding Advisory Committee. “We got the conversation started and have identified undeniable problems with the current funding formula but I don’t yet believe this proposal is ready for passage.”

Senator Bush represents 16 Lake County school districts under the reform plan. However, in the funding reform proposal passed today, some of those districts, such as Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 and Winthrop Harbor School District 1, stand to lose as much as 80% of their state funding.

“Unfortunately, an 80 percent reduction in funding is not acceptable or equitable for the schools in my district, which is why I couldn’t support the plan today. Winthrop Harbor and Wauconda are middle-class communities. Losing 80 percent of state funding is not an option for them and could force even higher property taxes on Lake County residents.”

Senator Bush remains committed to finding the middle ground when it comes to education funding reform in Illinois. She believes that property tax relief for Lake County residents should be a part of the overall solution.

“I stand firm that the current education funding formula isn’t working,” Senator Bush said. “But this process has shown me that without more state investment in education funding levels and without tax relief in other areas, there is no way that our state can truly achieve equitable education funding. I am committed to continued work on the issue so that we can find a better plan for middle-class communities.”