Showing posts with label schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label schools. Show all posts
8:21 AM
maybe more money for schools
Unknown
An article in the Daily Herald reports that Governor Balgojevich wants education funding fixed , and fixed now, before the November elections. The article mentions that he wants this done WITHOUT a tax increase. If a tax increase is in the bill, the governor would veto it.
This isn't sitting well with legislators (especially Democrats), since Governor Blagojevich wants to call a special session in September to address this. That is right during the heart of campaign season, and the special session could renew talk of a recall amendment to the State Constitution and impeachment.
Education funding is now a hot issue, thanks to State Senator James Meeks, who brought up the disparity in property tax funding between Chicago inner city and suburban school districts. This could be the focal point of next week's special session. Meeks also said that if Blagojevich will run for re-election, he will run against him in the Democrat primary in 2010.
This isn't sitting well with legislators (especially Democrats), since Governor Blagojevich wants to call a special session in September to address this. That is right during the heart of campaign season, and the special session could renew talk of a recall amendment to the State Constitution and impeachment.
Education funding is now a hot issue, thanks to State Senator James Meeks, who brought up the disparity in property tax funding between Chicago inner city and suburban school districts. This could be the focal point of next week's special session. Meeks also said that if Blagojevich will run for re-election, he will run against him in the Democrat primary in 2010.
1:53 PM
if the capital plan was not enough
Unknown
blagojevich , capital plan , emil jones , income tax , james meeks , pay raises , property tax , schools , special session
Governor Rod Blagojevich has called a special session of the legislature next week. One thing I thought of is the state legislature may find enough time to enjoy the Illinois State Fair and thus help sagging attendance. But back to business. They will go at the bequest of the governor to look at the scaled-down version (from 34 to 25 billion dollars) of the capital plan and public school funding.
First the public school funding issue was brought up by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, who demanded a special session. The ILBC wants to put school funding to the forefront because of the disparity of school district funding based on property taxes versus a tax dollar boost from income taxes. Recently Senator James Meeks (D-Chicago) called for parents to register their children for the upcoming school year at the New Trier Township school district, a wealthy suburban district. This is to be done to protest the funding disparities between intercity and suburban school districts.
Meeks and other African-American legislators have called for a property tax/income tax swap to equalize funding among school districts. Several have said that this plan would raise income taxes. This notion is nothing new. I can remember when Jim Edgar was in office as governor, he tried twice for at least some sort of reduction of the property tax for schools, but he could get no real, serious support and the initiatives failed. Once the plan was dead before any real talk on the issue could get going. Remember Edgar left office in January 1999. That's how long this has been. In Chicago, Meeks said he hoped to see a vote next week on a bill to allow students to go to whatever school district they wished. He also called for a vote on legislation to dismantle the state’s school funding system in 2010, forcing a rewrite of the funding system during the next gubernatorial election year.
I personally don't criticize the idea of this (I've shot the idea out in plenty of tax discussions for the last 12 years), but I have a difficulty accepting that this should be attempted in a special session without so much as a hearing on the issue. What do school administrators have to say? Or even county treasurers (of which I am one)? Since we collect and distribute school district property tax monies, I am a bit curious how an income tax system would operate. Plus how would this effect the property tax levy process? Would income taxes have to be increased? Get my concern? Logistics are a bit involved here!
Well if that's not enough, the capital plan revenue is still up in the air, since the major portion of the revenue is the sale or lease of the lottery. Meeks wanted the sale or lease of the lottery to go to education, but that plan failed. Meeks said he would not vote for the lottery sale or lease to fund construction. Will Senator Meeks appeal for a sale or lease of the lottery for his school tax swap plan? Tune in to find out. Will there be the votes in the House to use the lottery to fund the capital plan. A "test run" in the last special session said no (the vote was for the expansion of gambling licenses), but more House Republicans than who'd thought, voted for the expansion of gambling licenses as a source of revenue. Were they just practicing for what was yet to come? By the way, that initiative failed mainly due to a three-fifths vote needed.
If that's not enough, bring State Senate President Emil Jones into the mix. Jones faces the prospect of the legislative pay raises taking effect while the Senate is in session, opening him and other Democrats to criticism, or should I say more criticism? Jones & Co. have an "out" and that is to reject the raises in this special session. How bad does Mr. Jones and the Senate Democrats want that raise? We'll soon see.
Chicago Tribune Clout Street was a source article for this entry
First the public school funding issue was brought up by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, who demanded a special session. The ILBC wants to put school funding to the forefront because of the disparity of school district funding based on property taxes versus a tax dollar boost from income taxes. Recently Senator James Meeks (D-Chicago) called for parents to register their children for the upcoming school year at the New Trier Township school district, a wealthy suburban district. This is to be done to protest the funding disparities between intercity and suburban school districts.
Meeks and other African-American legislators have called for a property tax/income tax swap to equalize funding among school districts. Several have said that this plan would raise income taxes. This notion is nothing new. I can remember when Jim Edgar was in office as governor, he tried twice for at least some sort of reduction of the property tax for schools, but he could get no real, serious support and the initiatives failed. Once the plan was dead before any real talk on the issue could get going. Remember Edgar left office in January 1999. That's how long this has been. In Chicago, Meeks said he hoped to see a vote next week on a bill to allow students to go to whatever school district they wished. He also called for a vote on legislation to dismantle the state’s school funding system in 2010, forcing a rewrite of the funding system during the next gubernatorial election year.
I personally don't criticize the idea of this (I've shot the idea out in plenty of tax discussions for the last 12 years), but I have a difficulty accepting that this should be attempted in a special session without so much as a hearing on the issue. What do school administrators have to say? Or even county treasurers (of which I am one)? Since we collect and distribute school district property tax monies, I am a bit curious how an income tax system would operate. Plus how would this effect the property tax levy process? Would income taxes have to be increased? Get my concern? Logistics are a bit involved here!
Well if that's not enough, the capital plan revenue is still up in the air, since the major portion of the revenue is the sale or lease of the lottery. Meeks wanted the sale or lease of the lottery to go to education, but that plan failed. Meeks said he would not vote for the lottery sale or lease to fund construction. Will Senator Meeks appeal for a sale or lease of the lottery for his school tax swap plan? Tune in to find out. Will there be the votes in the House to use the lottery to fund the capital plan. A "test run" in the last special session said no (the vote was for the expansion of gambling licenses), but more House Republicans than who'd thought, voted for the expansion of gambling licenses as a source of revenue. Were they just practicing for what was yet to come? By the way, that initiative failed mainly due to a three-fifths vote needed.
If that's not enough, bring State Senate President Emil Jones into the mix. Jones faces the prospect of the legislative pay raises taking effect while the Senate is in session, opening him and other Democrats to criticism, or should I say more criticism? Jones & Co. have an "out" and that is to reject the raises in this special session. How bad does Mr. Jones and the Senate Democrats want that raise? We'll soon see.
Chicago Tribune Clout Street was a source article for this entry
2:39 PM
On Wednesday, June 18 at 7: 00 PM was the required Aledo-Westmer School Districts consolidation hearing. It was held at Aledo High School. The issue will be on the ballot for November 4th. Aledo in is Mercer and Henderson Counties and Westmer is in those counties plus Rock Island County. The petition was filed with the Regional Superintendent of Schools so the issue will be on the ballot. The petition required 50 signatures each from each respective school district.
The hearing was chaired by Jodi Scott, the Regional Superintendent for Warren, Henderson and Mercer Counties. The Committee of Ten, a state requirement for consolidation matters, gave their testimony. That committee also made their recommendations to each school board.
Their reco was to have the high school at Aledo and make the Joy facility a student center. The superintendent's office will be in Joy since Aledo is renting their facility now. Other items were the school locations: PK - 4 at the current grade schools, 5-6 at the Aledo Jr. High, 7-8 at the Westmer Jr. & Sr. High, 9-12 at Aledo High School. No new building or additions would be considered.
The new school district would be 379 square miles. The reco was for Aledo to discontinue the bus contract with Johannes. Westmer owns their buses. There would be a total of 18 bus routes (nine each). Aledo would lease to buy 9 new buses. The State of Illinois can reimburse the district for these buses. I instantly thought if the State has the money!!
I am glad I attended, to get a better handle on this important issue. There were about 50 in attendance.
The hearing was chaired by Jodi Scott, the Regional Superintendent for Warren, Henderson and Mercer Counties. The Committee of Ten, a state requirement for consolidation matters, gave their testimony. That committee also made their recommendations to each school board.
Their reco was to have the high school at Aledo and make the Joy facility a student center. The superintendent's office will be in Joy since Aledo is renting their facility now. Other items were the school locations: PK - 4 at the current grade schools, 5-6 at the Aledo Jr. High, 7-8 at the Westmer Jr. & Sr. High, 9-12 at Aledo High School. No new building or additions would be considered.
The new school district would be 379 square miles. The reco was for Aledo to discontinue the bus contract with Johannes. Westmer owns their buses. There would be a total of 18 bus routes (nine each). Aledo would lease to buy 9 new buses. The State of Illinois can reimburse the district for these buses. I instantly thought if the State has the money!!
I am glad I attended, to get a better handle on this important issue. There were about 50 in attendance.