State should meet obligation to schools

Education funding in Illinois is outrageous and illegal. It may surprise you, but this quote is from the constitution of the state of Illinois, Article X, Section 1: "The State has the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education."

Constitutional experts agree that the word "primary" in the last quoted sentence above means, at the very least, $1 more than 50 percent.

The average per pupil cost for the entire State is $9,650 with 27.6 percent coming from the state of Illinois and the rest from local taxes. I've heard all of the arguments for first boosting the quality of education before giving any more money to education. I agree with the calls for more efficient administration, better quality teachers, involving parents more in their children's education, and all the rest.

But I'm fed up with the constant upward spiral of property taxes, the majority of which go to fund the local education that is the legal responsibility of the state. Here's a thought that might spur some reforms: if my school district is spending more than the state per-pupil average, give me the right and the power to direct the education part of my property tax bill to the school district of my choice that is not getting the state average.

I'll send it where I believe educators are working hard to improve their students. Finally, if Governor Quinn wants an income tax increase, he and his cohorts better link it to a significant decrease in property taxes.

I don't mind paying a fair share to support the education of our state's children, but I do object to the confiscation of my home, a percent or two at a time, to pay for what the state, not my family and I, is required by law to pay.

Anthony E. Catania

Buffalo Grove