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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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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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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SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) released the statement below after a series of initially bipartisan bills that would have resulted in a balanced budget failed to advance through the Illinois Senate.

“For months, our caucus has been negotiating with Senate Republicans toward a balanced, bipartisan budget. Unfortunately, recent actions this week prove the Senate Republicans are refusing to compromise as they failed to support the bills in the Grand Bargain.   

“This budget package included money-saving reforms and $3.8 billion in cuts, largely proposed by the Republicans. It would have provided vital funding for universities and community colleges, services for those with developmental disabilities and given stability to the state’s business community. This was a step to a balanced budget for the state.

“Each day we are without a budget the state goes $11 million more into debt. Universities will continue to layoff staff and hike tuition rates. Services for those with disabilities will continue to shut down and the instability prevents job growth. It’s time for the Senate Republicans to drop the partisan games and come back to the negotiating table.”

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