As your editorial pointed out (“Beat the clock on funding reform,” April 15), with only weeks left of the spring legislative session, the General Assembly is faced with the enormous task of overhauling the way Illinois funds education. As a member of the Education Working Group formed by the governor, we are working hard and fast to put together a funding reform package.
The package must guarantee each student a quality education by setting a reasonable foundation level, raise the state’s share of education funding and provide property tax relief. We must ensure that well-funded schools remain well funded while raising lower-funded schools to an acceptable level. If the legislature heeds your calls to raise the state income tax, we should also raise the personal tax exemption above its present $1,000 to $3,000. This would allow us to fairly fund education while protecting our poorest citizens from getting hit the hardest. Education funding reform is the top priority for the Illinois legislature.
