After decades of debate, the time has finally come to change the way schools are funded in Illinois now that Democrats are in such complete control of state government, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said Thursday.
Daley, who supports a so-called tax swap that would increase the income-tax rate while lowering property taxes, said lawmakers need to take into account all of the ideas for changing school funding and agree on a solution. He said his fellow Democrats, who increased their control of both the House and Senate and retained the governor’s office in the November election, should lead the way.
“We have talked about this for 25 years,” Daley said. “Now, no one wants to sit here and talk about it for another 25 years. The time has come to start the debate anew, seize the opportunity for reform.”
Gov. Rod Blagojevich has pledged not to raise taxes, a significant sticking point for proponents of a tax swap.
Instead, Blagojevich last year proposed leasing or selling the state lottery to increase school funding, an idea that received a lukewarm reception. Blagojevich has also talked about taking advantage of other state assets, and lawmakers are studying the possible sale or lease of the tollway system.
Asked if selling the tollway would make sense, Daley said, “I think everything should be on the table and everything should be looked at, but it has to be a long-range goal. It can’t be for one year or two years. This has to be a five- or six- or 10-year goal.”
Dorothy Brown, who is challenging Daley in next month’s mayoral election, has criticized the mayor on education.
Brown recently said Daley had created a school system of “educational apartheid” that contains a small group of elite schools and sends the rest of its students to underperforming ones.
Daley dismissed the criticism Thursday, saying education officials have established magnet schools throughout the city while raising expectations for all students.
State Sen. James Meeks, who last summer also criticized Daley on education, joined the mayor on stage Thursday at Prosser Career Academy.
Meeks, who considered running for governor until Blagojevich unveiled his lottery plan, said he’s ready to push his tax-swap legislation if Blagojevich’s ideas stall.
“This is a piece of legislation that obviously Mayor Daley supports,” Meeks said. “And so why would I abandon support from a powerful individual like Mayor Daley?”
Asked if he supported Daley for re-election, Meeks said, “When I do that, then I think I’m going to have a separate press conference so that maybe I can get you guys back again.”
Asked if he would endorse Dorothy Brown, Meeks said: “I probably won’t be endorsing anybody who’s going to lose.”
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mciokajlo@tribune.com
