Devastating Impact of Senate Bill 16 on Frankfort School District 157-C: Loss of $1.8 Million

Illinois Senate Bill 16 (SB16,) the School Funding Reform Act of 2014 that will cost District 157-C more than $1.8 million in lost funding in its first year alone, recently passed in the Senate and is now in review in the House of Representatives. It is anticipated that SB16 will be voted on by the House sometime in November 2014, following the fall election.

“This change in state funding due to SB16 would negatively affect our district and our taxpayers, said Superintendent Dr. Maura J. Zinni. “This is public education and we believe the state should share in its cost.”

SB16 is intended to completely rework the way the state funds public education by shifting money away from suburban and urban school districts and towards more rural, downstate districts with lower assessed property values.

District 157-C currently receives limited funding from the state, with 87 percent of its funding for education provided by local taxpayers. The Illinois State Board of Education estimates that SB16 would cost District 157-C $1,831,591 in tax funding, thus further increasing the cost of education for local taxpayers.

“The Illinois Constitution places the primary responsibility for school funding upon the State of Illinois. Our Board of Education has made a conscious effort to respect its taxpayers, particularly during this country’s economic decline,” said Zinni. “SB16 would be devastating to our efforts to provide the world-class education for which 157-C is known.”

Over the past three years, the 157-C Board of Education, with the cooperation of the Frankfort Teachers Association, has kept its tax levy flat through creative measures including the strategic use of abatements from reserve funds, debt re-financing, and cost containment. Indeed, the District has maintained its “AAA” bond rating and its place on the state financial recognition list. Unfortunately, the State of Illinois has continually decreased state funding and placed unfunded mandates on the district.

The Board of Education remains committed to its “Tradition of Excellence,” with students being high achievers in academics, fine arts, athletics, extracurricular activities, character, and citizenship.

District 157-C encourages its families and community members from Frankfort and other suburban school districts to contact their Illinois Representatives if they are concerned about the dramatic effect SB16 will have on their schools and their taxes. They may use the following link to look up and email their legislators:

http://www.ieanea.org/legislative/find-your-legislators.