Governor's education fix remains a surprise

SPRINGFIELD - The governor is ordering lawmakers back to the Capitol next week, demanding they fix Illinois' much maligned system for financing public schools.

Exactly what that fix is, Gov. Rod Blagojevich won't say.

But he did tell reporters Friday he opposes abolishing the use of local property taxes to pay for local schools and if the lawmakers send him a tax increase for education, he'll veto it.

"I'm not going to raise taxes on people," the Chicago Democrat told reporters following the opening of the Illinois State Fair.

Blagojevich has previously said he opposes so-called "tax swaps" that would raise state taxes and use the money to roll back local taxes and provide more for schools.

His idea during the 2006 campaign was to lease or sell off the lottery for billions now and use the money to dramatically increase school funding over four years. It didn't happen.

But that lottery deal is now the lynch pin for his massive push for statewide construction. Without it, he's left with no way to pay for the roads, bridges and schools projects he wants built.

Education funding is back in the spotlight as elections and the start of the school year approach. In Chicago, Democratic state Sen. James Meeks is encouraging public school children to skip classes one day next month and try to instead enroll at Winnetka's New Trier High School. It's aimed at drawing attention to inequities in the state's education finance system that relies on local property values.

Meeks proposes raising state taxes to come up with more money for districts with low property values, leading to lower revenue and thus fewer academic and extracurricular activities.

Blagojevich said Tuesday's session is a chance to see if Meeks and others can pass any of the funding plans they've touted over the years.

Yet, there's little chance lawmakers will fix the funding system during the one-day session.

"And I think we're going to cure cancer, and win the war, both of them - Afghanistan and Iraq," said state Sen. Michael Noland, an Elgin Democrat who supports turning more to state taxes for education so long as property tax breaks are in the mix.

If they don't find a solution, the governor hasn't ruled out keeping lawmakers at the Capitol at least three days a week for the foreseeable future beginning next month.