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* From an editorial entitled “Governor holds education funds hostage” about the governor’s budget proposal to only spend $200 million of the $350 million increase in education funding unless his graduated income tax proposal is approved by voters in November…
The need-based funding formula was a big accomplishment for the state in 2017 — a true bipartisan piece of legislation signed by GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner. It sought to fix decades of spotty fund distribution.
Pritzker’s curve ball means school districts will have to craft budget plans before a September deadline without fully understanding how much money will be coming after the November vote. Schools typically have few options in those situations, including cutting staff, eliminating programs or hiking property taxes.
Pritzker has repeatedly said he wants to address skyrocketing property taxes, one driver in the state losing population as people flee. This approach does the precise opposite.
Where you fall on the progressive tax question doesn’t matter. What does matter is that our education leaders are facing yet another budgetary hoop introduced by the state.
There has to be a better way.
* The Question: Do you agree or disagree with Gov. Pritzker’s budget decision? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 2:57 pm
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Agree.
Imagine how bad it would be if you crafted a budget around 350, Fair Tax fails, and then you have to make massive cuts.
Could you argue that you should cut elsewhere? Sure, but there are a lot of areas of need and without Fair Tax funding, the school funding reform is not sustainable.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:04 pm
Disagree. JB pulled a trick out of Rauner’s playbook.
Don’t hold the state hostage to try to extract your political wishes.
Comment by Bashoooka Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:06 pm
Wholly agree.
If those who held Illinois itself hostage would like to show the cuts they will make if the progressive income tax fails, I will be the first to change my vote and say the governor is wrong, and I’m wrong too.
This is the closing argument of the progressive income tax vote.
It’s everything.
This governor, unlike his failed predecessor is putting pen to paper to show how a budget reflects, weighs, measures…. policy.
You don’t like it? Show your cuts, show your revenue.
“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate”
This governor is making clear;
I know what I’m going to do if the progressive income tax fails. That’s called being a leader.
The phonies who held the state hostage and now whine “hostage”… show your cuts… or sit down.
Wholly agree.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:07 pm
=Show me you cuts=
Don’t add ~1,100 new workers to the State’s payroll.
Comment by Bashoooka Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:09 pm
Disagree. Uncertainty is awful and he shouldn’t do that to schools across the state. Pick one or the other.
Comment by An Illinois Man Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:09 pm
Most expect he will flip in a month or so and all will be pleased
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:10 pm
=== Don’t add ~1,100 new workers to the State’s payroll.===
… then you WILL give this governor a pass for failing at DOC and DCFS… you see no need for those agencies to meet staffing needs.
Anything else?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:11 pm
Agree with the Governor.
From the editorial: “The logic here is that the progressive tax will make an estimated $1.4 billion and that more money could go to schools and higher education. The problem is, Pritzker’s approach holds the money hostage as he rolls the dice. This kind of strong-arm bullying tactic is not unusual in politics, but the governor is taking an unusual approach in creating uncertainty for school districts.”
that’s nonsense. He’s not holding anything hostage, he’s following the law. The state cannot spend money it doesn’t have and the Governor cannot use prospective funds to balance the budget. If he uses the money to balance the budget, and then the amendment fails, woof, the howls will be deafening. If he doesn’t, you get a real good idea of why this amendment needs to pass: we have a structural deficit that requires more revenue because no one wants to make the cuts that would otherwise be required.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:12 pm
===Most expect he will flip in a month or so===
I’m wondering if it was some devilish plot to entice Republicans into arguing for more spending. /s
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:13 pm
Agree -
We always here - “Elections have consequences”
It is nice to know what some of them might be before the vote takes place.
Comment by Former Candidate on the Ballot Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:13 pm
=Anything else?=
A state which has lost 200,000 residents in the past nine years should require less employees to operate.
Comment by Bashoooka Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:14 pm
Disagree because we expect this power to be wielded over legislators, but not joe taxpayer. As it’s described it looks like it’s holding less needy districts hostage. Singling out lower need district voters seems unfair.
Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:14 pm
Agree. This is not even remotely in the neighborhood of Rauner’s devastating three-year budget sabotage—three years because he vetoed the budget and tax hike in 2017, even though he probably wanted the overrides.
Right wing and Republican opponents need to show cuts, since they’re so opposed to a graduated income tax. Do something beside just oppose and scream from the sidelines. Work hard, just like you tell others on the public dime.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:16 pm
Disagree, everything from JB’s camp has/will be directly linked to passing the CA. As for the cuts if CA fails, JB asked for a budge that reflects 6.5% cuts - he need to show his work.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:16 pm
Note:
Allowing the voters of this state to see the options in front of them if the amendment passes or fails, there’s NO question to the monetary choices and policies the voters can see that will happen, passes or fails.
————————————
The governor’s predecessor was leveraging 2-4 Dems, including Ken Dunkin to hurt Illinois for an agenda that had no chance at 60-30, at passing, so those like Ms. Bourne cheered at the destruction the budget impasse had, Ms. Bourne ran supporting her patron, she did so both times.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:16 pm
I’m with the Governor on this. We don’t know what’s going to happen in November and he can’t set up false expectations for school districts until the Fair tax passes and the state knows what kind of funding is actually available. If the Fair tax passes then school districts won’t have to deal with this again for quite some time (hopefully never again).
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:19 pm
=== A state which has lost 200,000 residents…===
LOL, ok, now that argument is too funny to the question at hand.
Ya know, not everything is about people leaving the state.
=== should require less employees to operate.===
Explain the last 10 years to Illinois’ state employee headcount and it’s national ranking.
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:19 pm
The state has not balanced its budget since at least 2001. Why should this year be any different?
The constitution is more a guideline than a rule in Illinois
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:29 pm
Disagree.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Springfield kept a promise just once.
Comment by Intheknow Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:32 pm
=== The state has not balanced its budget since at least 2001. Why should this year be any different?===
Governor Rauner signed ONE unbalanced budget?
How do explain his policies now?
Maybe we should revisit the comments by Charlie Wheeler? Your drive by seems too… simple. Mr. Wheeler can clarify much better.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:33 pm
Voted disagree, but might take that back. Dems made it clear during the impasse that Rauner could have just line-itemed vetoed the budget, or not spent at appropriated levels, in order to balance the budget. That sounds like a great plan for this fiscal year.
Then the Gov can make real time decisions on where and what to cut. Maybe then he will take a harder look at what the state can and can’t afford.
Comment by Phenomynous Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:36 pm
I agree with the Governor on this. Aligned with this will be my refusal to locally vote for any property tax increases for schools, despite my support of education, otherwise the inertia will continue.
Comment by VerySmallRocks Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:36 pm
=too funny=
I don’t think a smaller population is funny.
And i don’t think the concept of “right-sizing” is so foreign that it can’t be applied to a state government.
Comment by Bashoooka Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:38 pm
=== I don’t think a smaller population is funny.===
The crutch is indeed comical to the argument specifically at hand.
=== And i don’t think the concept of “right-sizing” is so foreign that it can’t be applied to a state government.===
Again…
Explain the last 10 years to Illinois’ state employee headcount and it’s national ranking.
Thanks.
Your thoughts needs substance. Add that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:40 pm
==And i don’t think the concept of “right-sizing” is so foreign that it can’t be applied to a state government.==
State government doesn’t have enough employees to do all of the things it is supposed to be doing now. You come out with a list of all of the things you no longer wish the state to do then we can talk about employee headcount. I don’t know how much more “right sized” you want the state.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:40 pm
==The state has not balanced its budget since at least 2001. Why should this year be any different?==
So then you must support the Governor’s plan.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:43 pm
Agree for reasons previously stated. If you give the schools the money up front and the tax change doesn’t pass, what are you gonna cut?
Comment by Nameless Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:53 pm
Disagree. Because regardless of whether the fair tax passes or not, education will be fully funded. Best not to make threats if you’re not willing to follow through
Comment by Alcap One Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:53 pm
Agree. Voters need to understand how voting against the FAIR tax will affect them - and their communities - directly.
Some group (was it BGA perhaps?) proposed that $150 million be withheld from Discovery Partners Institute, and I can see the logic there.
The thing is, what percentage of the population of Illinois is directly interested in the DPI at this moment? What percentage would sit up and take notice if that $500 million was reduced to $350 million?
OTOH, everybody is interested in K-12 schooling, and will sit up and take note if (only recently-instituted) state funding support is cut.
For school districts significantly affected by the withholding of funds at the start of the 2020-2021 ay, I would assume most districts will generate two budgets, just as the GOMB did - one if the FAIR tax passes, one if it doesn’t.
Comment by dbk Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:58 pm
===… education will be fully funded. Best not to make threats if you’re not willing to follow through===
You’re betting on the Governor “flinching”?
If the governor puts $20-25 million on ads telling folks about the consequences (in the closing argument) if it fails, that’s a pretty big walk back.
I’m betting a man who spent $300K a day for 430 straight days realizes this, what you want as a game of chicken, strategy also exposes him if the tax plan fails, and it’s not a slam dunk by any means.
Will the voters, after the barrage of ads, think he’s bluffing?
Dunno.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 3:58 pm
===should require less employees to operate===
*fewer
https://tinyurl.com/nqqpdv9
Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 4:11 pm
@Nick Name: Thank you, that was driving me crazy and restraining myself was becoming painful.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 4:22 pm
Agree. The Republican narrative will always be that Pritzker is a tax and spend Democrat. You can’t spend if you don’t tax. Pritzker is making that point abundantly clear.
And to the politics of it, should the progressive tax fail, he will be able to argue that an increase in the flat tax is necessary to meet our obligations. An increase for some, or an increase for all. That’s the choice.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 4:41 pm
Agree, but reluctantly, because it seems too clever by half to say vote for the fair tax or education/state employee headcount doesn’t get properly funded. I’ll admit that I cannot really articulate my misgivings, but its nagging at me. Finally, thanks for the fewer/lesser comments above. See also your/you’re and its/it’s.
Comment by SAP Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 4:45 pm
=== he will be able to argue that an increase in the flat tax is necessary to meet our obligations. An increase for some, or an increase for all. That’s the choice.===
Tasty stuff here.
The selling of the progressive tax is 3-fold…
1) 97% of taxpayers will NOT see an increase
2) if it fails, everyone will feel a very large tax increase to pay for budgetary needs.
3) if it fails, the closing argument is… then things will be cut immediately, or worse, not funded.
This isn’t rocket science, this isn’t wonky or political shading… it’s fundamental to this amendment, these 3 selling points.
The governor putting in the budget the school funding scenario if the fair tax fails is being honest to the consequences.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 4:48 pm
==I don’t think the concept of “right-sizing” is so foreign that it can’t be applied to a state government==
Translation: Stick the Millennials with the bill. It worked for the Boomers.
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 4:55 pm
I doubt you’ll find a Republican that will say we shouldn’t fully fund education. I also doubt that you’ll find a a Republican that will support the fair tax. A bit of a quandary isn’t it?
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 5:11 pm
Looks like the progressive tax bill will determine the future of governor Pritzker.
Comment by Chichi55 Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 5:42 pm
Bashoooka, “right sizing” based solely on the number of residents is over simplistic. Let’s take a few examples:
1) DOC - what are the trends in the prison population? What are the trends in overtime for employees?
2) DCFS - are the number of child abuse investigations over the last few years increasing? What about the number of families receiving services or the number of foster children?
3) State Police - look up stories about the number of troopers by year over the last few years.
Point being, the number of State employees is controlled by way more factors than just the total number of residents.
Comment by MyTwoCents Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 5:50 pm
The Governor must not be very talented or bright if he can’t find 3.5% out of a 42 billion dollar budget to cut spending in areas other than education. I din’t care if he’s bluffing or not. Our state government cannot be trusted with the monies they already collect. All of the votes in our house for the “fair” tax will be no. I couldn’t disagree more.
Comment by Really Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 6:23 pm
Don’t care.
Comment by Really Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 6:25 pm
==proposal to only spend $200 million of the $350 million increase in education funding==
Withholding less than 1% of the total education spend, especially when it’s above and beyond last year, is hardly a crisis.
==Schools typically have few options in those situations, including cutting staff, eliminating programs or hiking property taxes.==
Once again, there is no funding cut. If you have the funding this year, it will be there next year. If you’re cutting programs, you’re already over budget.
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Feb 25, 20 @ 8:36 pm
Agree for all the reasons OW stated far more clearly than I could.
Comment by CharlieKratos Wednesday, Feb 26, 20 @ 7:26 am