Democrats for Education Reform Illinois (DFER-IL) Calls for Comprehensive Education Funding and Pension Reform in Statement from the State Director
Illinois pension liabilities are consuming vital state dollars and crowding out money for education and other important pillars of civil society. The headlines in newspapers across the state tell the story of funding shortfalls, more job and service cuts, and poor credit ratings. Here we go again, our fiscal house is in crisis from Chicago to Springfield, and the future of Illinois’ students and teachers is on the line.
This sorry state of affairs is the unfortunate result of years of persistent inaction from the Illinois General Assembly. Even with the state’s recent tax increase, there is simply not enough money to make higher pension contributions and fund critical services like education. The share of the state’s revenues going toward pension contributions has more than doubled—from 6% of the state’s operating budget in 2008 to 15% in 2013. Yet, despite these skyrocketing pension contributions, the funded status of pension plans has continued to plummet according to reports from the Civic Committee. We need a plan for comprehensive education funding and real pension reform.
Special interests who oppose giving parents a choice have often raised the specter of funding diversions from traditional schools to create political roadblocks for public charter schools. The truth is the state’s investment in education is wholly inadequate for both charter and traditional public schools. While we are happy the General Assembly has passed legislation creating a taskforce to report on the ramifications of and potential remedies for the current charter school funding gap, this a partial solution. Our local property taxes are regressive and Illinois public schools currently receive among the lowest levels of state investment in the nation!
Democrats for Education Reform Illinois (DFER-IL), calls on Governor Pat Quinn, the general assembly, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to find a way to work together to invest in public education and to face the pension crisis head on. It’s time to stop postponing hard choices. The decisions we make today will surely impact the state we live in tomorrow. It’s time to stand together for real pension reform and a plan for comprehensive education funding.