Murphy: School funding reform key to lowering property taxes

SPRINGFIELD- It’s no secret that Illinois property taxpayers have been paying more than their share of costs of school funding for years. While other states pay their fair share of funding, Illinois ranks near the bottom in the amount the state contributes, putting the burden of funding education on local taxpayers.  

State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) voted in support of legislation that will begin to shift the burden of paying for schools off of property taxpayers and back onto the state.

“I voted in support of this legislation that will begin to shift the burden of paying for schools away from property taxpayers and make the state pay its fair share,” Murphy said. “Our antiquated school funding formula has resulted in sky-high property taxes for suburban families. This legislation is a step toward lessening the burden of funding schools and putting it back on the state where it belongs.”

In the school funding formula, none of the schools in the 28th District will lose any funding. The legislation contains a hold harmless provision that would prevent school districts from receiving less funding in the future.
 
“Pitting school districts against each other by forcing cuts on one to try to benefit another is unfair to our students,” Murphy said. “The hold harmless provision in this proposal prevents cuts from being forced on our schools to provide stability for teachers and students alike. Furthermore, it will provide long-term property tax relief.”
 
The legislation, Senate Bill 1, has passed both chambers of the Illinois legislature and I encourage the governor to sign this bill.

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Senator Murphy hosts three town hall meetings

State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) hosted three town hall meetings this week to discuss the state budget, school funding reform and other issues facing our state.

Murphy held the town halls across her district in Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village and her hometown of Des Plaines.

“In-person town hall meeting are a fundamental way to get feedback from the constituents I represent,” Murphy said. “Thank you to everyone who attended to discuss the critical issues we are facing.”

Discussions centered largely on the ongoing state budget stalemate and school funding reform proposal that passed in both houses of the General Assembly in late May.

Murphy also offered an in-depth look at the state budget impasse with a presentation about the state’s spending priorities and the long term cost the state budget will have on Illinois families.

While Sen. Murphy’s first series of town hall meetings has concluded, she looks forward to hosting more meetings in the future.

Murphy’s key legislative initiatives this spring included increasing women’s access to health care, protecting First Amendment rights and increasing the transparency and accountability of Medicaid contracts.

Murphy-backed property tax freeze passes the Senate

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the following statement after she voted to support a two-year property tax freeze. The package proposal, made up of Senate Bills 482 and 484, passed the Senate with bipartisan votes of 38-11-9 and 37-11-9, respectively.

“The number one complaint I hear from my constituents is the skyrocketing property taxes are forcing them out of their homes, and they have requested action by the legislature to stop this trend.

“Today, I am proud to stand with my colleagues, and even some Republicans, who supported freezing property taxes. This bill is a start to long overdue property tax relief to homeowners in the Northwest suburbs.

“I encourage the Illinois House and Governor Rauner to quickly pass and sign this legislation to give Illinois families a break.”

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Murphy: Budget votes offer stability, certainty

SPRINGFIELD- The Illinois Senate passed a package of bills today that included over $3 billion in cuts, money-saving reforms and new revenues to produce a balanced budget. State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) supported the package and released the statement below following the vote.

“For the first time in over two years, this budget finally provides stability to a state that has been lurching from one crisis to the next.

“Until our state has the certainty of a balanced budget, students will continue to flee the state and universities and community colleges continue to crumble. People that use services for developmental disabilities will continue to fear the services they depend on will be eliminated, and businesses will continue to take their investments elsewhere due to the state’s instability.

“This budget mirrors the framework of the governor’s budget. It contains the exact amount of spending that the governor proposed, with many of the reforms he requested, like procurement reform, school funding reform and a property tax freeze. For the first time in two years, we now have a responsible, balanced budget that will finally bring stability to our state.”

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