Unions put up roadblocks for bills that could have freed up more money for Illinois classrooms, expanded opportunities for Illinois health care workers and ensured police officers are subject to better accountability under state law.
Civic Federation finds nearly 9,000 tax-guzzling government units in Illinois
A recent comprehensive analysis found the real number of government units in Illinois is 30% higher than the U.S. Census Bureau’s count. Too many government units mean too many taxes.
Classrooms First Act unanimously passes Illinois House committee
A bill to channel education dollars from duplicate bureaucracy and into classrooms or back to property taxpayers won committee approval. It is headed for a full vote in the Illinois House.
Three myths about district consolidation under the Classrooms First Act
A bill that could reduce property taxes and improve education quality faces a misinformation campaign from school district administrators seeking to preserve wasteful bureaucracy. Here are the facts about the Classrooms First Act.
Consolidating school districts could cut family’s tax bill by $1,030
House Bill 7 would create a process to review and recommend consolidating school district administration, with the goal of cutting bureaucracy so the money goes to classrooms or back to taxpayers.
113 six-figure school district administrators oppose Classrooms First Act
Of the 113 school district administrators earning six-figure salaries who oppose a bill to reduce bureaucracy, 21 are above the $200,000 mark. The bill intends to put more money into classrooms or back in taxpayers’ pockets.
Illinois education spending belongs in classrooms, not in administrative offices
A bill in the Illinois House would work to consolidate administration of Illinois’ schools without closing schools. The move would put more money in classrooms and take less from property taxpayers.
Illinois property taxes rank No. 2 in the nation for third year running
Property taxes in Illinois are nearly double the national average. Until state lawmakers trim down thousands of local governments and pursue pension reform, those bills wills remain high.
Illinois wastes taxes supporting too many school district bureaucracies
Illinois could put $708 million more toward classrooms or property tax relief if it reduced school district bureaucracy to national average.
Illinois K-12 school districts losing students, gaining administrators
Despite shrinking populations of students and teachers, Illinois school districts have continued to grow their administrative bodies.