Algonquin dad wants schools, not state, to have his cash

Curtis Flint knows something about budget cuts.

The Algonquin resident and married father of two, out of work during a portion of the recession, recently took a lower-paying job, meaning his kids were placed on state health insurance as he and his wife footed the bill for their own plans.

The family adjusted, he said, and lived within his means, albeit not quite as comfortably as before.

News this week of the General Assembly’s vote to increase the income tax rate by 66 percent has Flint incensed — especially because he doesn’t think the state has demonstrated that it can live within its means, or live up to its promises.

Flint wants to take a portion of the estimated $1,500 in additional taxes he will have to pay to the state and deliver it directly to Community Unit District 300, where his daughter attends, instead of trusting the state to dole the money out.

“We’ve given them all this money over the years. And a certain percentage is supposed to be given to the schools, but it never makes it,” he said.

Flint has a point.

As of last week, State Board of Education spokesman Matt Vanover said, the state was $1 billion behind in payments to school districts across the state.

Even after instituting massive cuts last year, school districts across the suburbs are in the process of again slashing their budgets — preparing to lay off teachers, increase class sizes, and limit electives.

On top of that, Elgin Area School District U-46’s and District 300’s school boards, which are missing $15 million and $9 million in state payments, respectively, have authorized borrowing through tax anticipation warrants. The warrants work like short-term loans, so the districts can make payroll until they receive their property tax payments from local counties in the spring.

District 300 Superintendent Kenneth Arndt said the tax increase will help his district, which plans to make $8.3 million in cuts, not to slide further into the red. It won’t provide any additional money, however.

An estimated $410 million in additional revenue has been promised to schools only after a four-year period of increased taxes, said Kelly Kraft, budget spokeswoman for Gov. Pat Quinn.

The increase signed by Quinn on Thursday raises the state income tax from 3 percent to 5 percent for the next four years. The rate for businesses would increase from 4.8 percent to 7 percent.

After the 5 percent income tax rate reverts to 3.75 percent in four years, part of the remaining increase will be set aside for schools.

Yet, even then, school officials aren’t confident they’ll see the money, given the state’s history.

“We still don’t know what we don’t know. We don’t know what that’s going to mean for local school districts. If that pot of money goes to general state aid, you’re going to have winners and you’re going to have losers,” U-46 spokesman Tony Sanders said.

Flint has a pending request with his state representative, Republican Michael Tryon, to see if there is some legal way to go about giving a portion of his income tax obligation to his schools.

“I just think, there’s got to be a way so I know it gets in their hands. They’re raising class sizes, they cut out gym, they’re asking for money for paper and staples,” Flint said. “I don’t want to get thrown in jail, but I want to do something.”