Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce schools set to lose more than 36 million in education funding

Letter to Membership featured in The Current, the e-mail newsletter of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce

Last July, a committee of state legislators was charged with recommending ways to improve public education funding in Illinois, which has remained unchanged since 1997. The result of the task force was the creation of Senate Bill 16 (SB16). This proposed bill is projected to reduce education funding by $36.7 million in the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce region.

A chart listing the schools and their projected losses is posted on the Chamber’s Website.

Projected Reductions

• Benjamin School District 25 / Funding cut by $524,465.
• Community Unit School District 200 / Funding cut by $9,827,868.
• Naperville CU District 203 / Funding cut by $9,450,444.
• Winfield School District 34 / Funding cut by $187,423.
• ALOP-DuPage ROE / Funding cut by $21,358.
• Safe School–DuPage ROE / Funding cut by $1,807.
• Naperville Indian Prairie District 204 / Funding cut by $10,150,537.
• Community Unit High School 99 /  Funding cut by $3,022,573.
• Downers Grove School District 58 / Funding cut by $2,183,102.00
• Darien School District 61 / Funding cut by $1,376,685.
  Total funding cuts for NACC Service Area: $36,746,262

SB 16 in its current form is a property tax increase for our residents and businesses.  The Senate sponsor said as much on the floor during debate, alluding that the lost funding would have to be made up locally.  While the Chamber welcomes discussions to reform our education funding system, we cannot support a measure that dramatically reduces baseline funding for so many school districts in our region.

True education reform measures should not create winners and losers.  Reform should be about helping all students achieve better educational outcomes, not undermining the financial support provided to students. Simply put many families and businesses cannot afford to have these costs pushed down to the local level.

Some members are strongly fighting this bill in support of our local schools.  State Representative Ron Sandack filed House Resolution 1276 “urging the members to cease their efforts to pass SB16 and to make certain that all aspects of the Senate Education Funding Advisory Committee report are analyzed and discussed thoroughly and publicly by all members of the General Assembly, taxpayers, parents and the education community.”

Where did SB16 come from? Modeled after an effort in Massachusetts, their General Assembly provided $1 billion in new money (in addition to current spending levels).  Illinois’ version of this model, SB16, has no new money and is a redistribution of current resources.

Status of SB16?  The bill passed the Senate in May 27, 2014, and is awaiting debate by the Illinois State House.  We strongly encourage you to contact your state representatives and voice your opposition for this bill and urge them to sign onto HR1276.

—Nicki Anderson, President and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce

Note: The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is a paid membership organization invested in representing the interests of Chamber Members through an open and competitive business environment. The Chamber does not endorse, Member or otherwise, any individual, business, product, offer.  Letter to membership reprinted with permission.