How Did Your Senator Vote On The School Funding Reform Bill?

How Did Your Senator Vote On The School Funding Reform Bill?
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The Illinois Senate on Tuesday passed a major overhaul of the formula by which Illinois school funding is distributed to local school districts.

For Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, who sponsored the bill, it was the culmination of three years of work to construct a plan that would repair a system that virtually everyone in state government agrees unfairly deprives students in less affluent school districts the quality education they deserve.

But the future of school funding reform -- and, for that matter, school funding for the budget year that begins July 1 -- remains as unclear and contentious after the Senate vote as it was before.

The roll call above shows that Manar's bill split the Senate not just on party lines (which it did; only one Republican, Sam McCann of Plainview, voted for it) but on geographic lines as well. Three suburban Democrats voted no and two others voted present. The 31-21-3 vote was one more than the 30 votes needed to pass, but well under the 36 needed to override a veto should it reach Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk and be vetoed.

School funding is an especially touchy subject for lawmakers who represent districts that contain affluent school districts where property owners pay high property taxes to provide most of their school funding. Those districts already receive a lower portion of state aid and homeowners fear loss of state aid will be made up on their property tax bills.

Manar's bill contains a "hold harmless" provision to prevent any loss of funding in the first year, but it would be phased out over four years.

In addition to the fairness issue, the dismal condition of Chicago Public Schools also factored into the debate. Some Republicans argue that Manar's bill, which gives Chicago $175 million more than in the current fiscal year, amounts to a state bailout of a failing school district. Gov. Bruce Rauner had sought for state control of CPS and advocated for a bankruptcy filing to deal with its tremendous debt, though the Illinois State Board of Education said recently that a takeover is unwarranted.

The bill's fate in the House is unclear, as House Speaker Michael Madigan earlier this year formed his own task force on education reform. Rauner has not said what he would do should Manar's bill make it to his desk.

All this will need to be sorted out swiftly. The deadline for the General Assembly to pass a budget is May 31, and a school funding bill will be part of it. The question is whether all of those, including Rauner, who have long complained of the unfairness of the current system will do something about it.

Check the chart below to see how your senator voted. Then use our Sound Off tool to contact your lawmakers, Rauner, Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and the Republican leaders in the General Assembly to voice your opinion on fairly funding all Illinois school districts regardless of their zip codes.

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