State candidates all favor school finance reform

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This is the first in a series of stories by the Lee Enterprises/ Daily Chronicle Springfield bureau examining issues in the primary races for governor. By Matt Adrian - Springfield Bureau Reporter SPRINGFIELD - The one thing that all candidates running for governor can agree on is that Illinois must do a better job of funding education. However, how this accomplished becomes a more complex issue as candidates try to balance voter disdain for tax increases with promises to put more money in the classroom. Illinois schools are largely funded through local property taxes with state and federal money covering the rest. &#8220In Illinois, more than any other state, where you live determines what type of education you can get,” said Democratic gubernatorial challenger Edwin Eisendrath. Over the years, education groups have pushed for a tax swap, which would increase personal income taxes while providing property tax relief. Several gubernatorial candidates were concerned that increasing taxes doesn't necessarily mean the money goes towards education. &#8220I'm not persuaded that solution to the education funding problem is to raise taxes,” said Republican Ron Gidwitz, a former president of the Illinois State Board of Education. &#8220It's an excuse to tax people more to use for other purposes.” Lawmakers have refused to consider a tax swap fearing a backlash at the ballot box. Many of the gubernatorial candidates have promised to not raise taxes if they are elected. Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who recently renewed his pledge to not raise the income or sales tax, is campaigning on an education platform that includes universal preschool for all kids. To achieve this and other school increases, the governor wants to sweep special funds and close tax loopholes. &#8220We funded education, raised standards, expanded preschool, and cut red tape. You should be proud of the progress we have made,” said Blagojevich during his recent reelection announcement. Eisendrath called the no tax pledge &#8220a cowardly political act in the state of Illinois. It is not a moment of braveness.” The former Chicago alderman said he would consider all possible revenue increases including a tax swap. While the administration has increased the amount of money it spends on each school student in Illinois, it still falls $1,241 short of the $6,405 recommended by the state-run Education Funding Advisory Board. The governor has also failed to meet his own goal of increasing per pupil spending by $1,000 over four years. So far Blagojevich has increased spending $604 for each Illinois student. Another Republican candidate, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, argues that Blagojevich is just piling on proposals that don't take into account the growing pension debt that will eat up future funds for all state spending including education &#8220You don't fund it by adding program on top of program which is what Gov. Blagojevich is doing,” said Topinka in a debate on Chicago Public Radio. &#8220This is another feel good program added to on to a school program that is under-funded to begin with.” The Republican candidates are all calling for cutting red tape and bureaucracy as away to push more money into the classroom. &#8220We need to get rid of the state superintendent, we need to get rid of the state board,” said Republican challenger Bill Brady, a state senator from Bloomington, during a Chicago Public Radio debate. He wants to put the duties of the state board of education under the control of the governor's office. Brady, who has also opposes raising taxes, said he wants to devote 51 percent of the state's natural revenue growth towards education. He also proposes setting aside 10 percent of that growth for property tax relief. Dairy owner Jim Oberweis, another Republican seeking to knock off Blagojevich, suggests that money could be saved by encouraging school consolidation. &#8220I believe that we already have sufficient dollars being spent on our educational process in Illinois, but those dollars are not effectively used,” he said. &#8220Too many dollars are wasted on administration and bureaucracy.” Oberweis also proposes offering teachers merit raises opposed to handing out pay increases based on tenure. Gidwitz has proposed several education reforms including smaller classrooms and more attention paid to reading instruction in a child's early years. To pay for all this, the candidate wants education to be the state's top funding priority. &#8220Look at the constitution ... that says the state has the primary responsibility for funding education,” he said. &#8220Right now the state is providing 32 percent of all the funding for education. I don't know that's taking primary responsibility.” Topinka also supports the creation of new charter schools and vocational training for certain high-schoolers. The primary election is March 21. Matt Adrian can be reached at matt.adrian@l ee.net or (217) 789-0865.