The state’s new education funding reform law, ironed out through bipartisan compromise, stands in stark contrast to the more one-sided state budget that passed earlier this summer, Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) said in a recent press release.
Butler noted his disappointment with the budget, which included tax increases but no reform, he said. The budget survived a veto from Gov. Bruce Rauner, with an override coming largely along party lines.
“In contrast to our strong budget disagreements, this week members of both parties in the House and Senate worked together to pass a new formula for funding our schools that will benefit all schools and students in Illinois,” Butler said in the release. “The new 'evidence-based' formula contained in SB 1947 prioritizes funding for our most impoverished schools and students while ensuring all 852 school districts in Illinois are treated fairly.”
Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield)
Butler said schools in his district will receive an additional $1.6 million in state funding over last year, and also applauded the law’s creation of a tax credit scholarship program, which will allow low- and middle-income students to attend private schools. He also approved of mandate relief for school districts.
The new law also provides property tax relief for some districts and makes charter school funding more equitable, according to Butler.
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