Need radical change in education funding

As the school year opens, we are reminded again of the inequity of school funding in Illinois. For several decades The League of Women Voters has advocated for substantive change in the way we fund education in Illinois. The league believes our current tax structure is seriously flawed and incapable of generating revenues sufficient even to keep pace with inflation. The ensuing structural deficit requires a massive infusion of new moneys every year just to maintain current funding levels let alone having to meet increased demands. The Illinois Constitution mandates majority funding for public education; that is becoming less and less an achievable reality. This shortfall in state dollars along with our reliance on property taxes to fund schools creates a huge disparity of resources available to local districts.

We believe the time for developing a more reliable and equitable funding base in Illinois is long overdue. It is important for each of us to let our representatives in Springfield know we are tired of the meager response when a radical approach is needed. It is past time for the legislators to find the courage to become part of the solution rather than remaining part of the problem.

Diane J. Sanderson

Director

League of Women Voters of Lake County