Poll: Should Education Be Funded Primarily Through Property Taxes?

Education largely is funded through local property taxes.

Education funding in Illinois largely comes from local property taxes. Critics of the system state that depending on property taxes creates huge disparities in how much is being spent on education from district to district. For example, a Chicago Tribune analysis found that in 2010 Taft Elementary School in Lockport spent $7,023 in operating cost per student, while Rondout Elementary near Lake Forest spent $24,244. A recent lawsuit argued the system was unfair because people in areas with large, wealthy, property tax bases paid a lower tax rate than people who lived in less wealthy areas, the Daily Herald reported. Another issue is that property taxes are not tied to any economic reality for the taxpayer. Property taxes rise regardless of …

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Sully

9:41 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013

Much!   more ›

Budget Showdown Looming In Springfield

State lawmakers foreshadowed a showdown over the Illinois budget Saturday. The House and Senate need to agree on a plan by a Thursday deadline, which could include cuts for suburban school districts of up to 4 percent.

PCCS Funding a Hot Topic at Woodland PTA Meeting

Emotions flare regarding distribution of state funds.

After thanking the PTA at Wednesday morning’s meeting for the monies they provide through fund-raising “that pass directly to the kids,” associate superintendent Bob Leonard led into an overview of District 50’s current financial situation. The district seeks to reduce expenses and increase revenues in order to close the gap on a forecasted $4 million dollar FY12 budget deficit. In addition to receiving only part of the state funding shortfall from FY11, Woodland is facing a reduction in state funding. Normally the state appropriates a 3 percent annual increase but they have reduced that percentage for FY12.  In addition, state dollars are allocated based on need and the district is seeing a decline in enrollment due to a leveling off of …

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Diane

1:29 pm on Tuesday, January 18, 2011

I agree on both counts-Prarie Crossing school is pretty exclusive, I live one subdivision to the north and NEVER was informed about the school-all word of mouth. In the same respect I agree about making Woodland a smaller school district. I LIVE in Grayslake and my kids will go to GCHS, but they have to go to Woodland for grammar school. When they graduate only a very small percentage will go to …   more ›