A press release from Senator Christina Castro:
Castro votes to restore predictability and stability to local schools
SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) today voted to support community schools.
“Today we passed monumental school funding reform that will allow all our children a chance to be successful regardless of their zip code,” Castro said.
“This funding reform will finally give school districts like U-46 essential funding to support our students without taking resources away from students in School District 54, District 211 or any other district in the state.”
Castro praised Senate Bill 1 as a monumental school funding reform bill that is widely supported by school superintendents, educators, advocates and community organizations across the state.
“This was not only the most beneficial reform brought forth this legislative session, it is also the most necessary,” she said.
The state’s school funding formula has not been updated in more than 20 years and is considered one of the worst in the nation. The final step needed to enact SB1 into law was a signature from Gov. Bruce Rauner, yet he refused to advance the historic reform, instead vetoing it and requesting the changes.
Castro’s vote helped the Senate override Gov. Rauner’s that demanded more than 100 changes to the historic measure just weeks before school was scheduled to start. A final vote is needed in the House for a full override.
One of the most impactful changes demanded by the governor was the removal of a hold harmless provision for school districts after three years. Unlike the plan Castro supported, the governor’s proposal could result in school districts such as Districts 54 and 211 losing money at the start of the 2020-2021 school year.
Rauner’s veto came despite his approval of “90 percent of Senate Bill 1,” according to his education secretary earlier this year. But instead of enacting this historic reform, he chose to use education funding as leverage in an attempt to further his regressive legislative agenda. Several of the demanded changes weren’t even related to education, including an amendment that would punish schools for their local governments’ economic development efforts.
“We shouldn’t have to choose between providing our children with a good education and growing our economy,” Castro said. “I don’t know why Governor Rauner is trying to force municipalities to make that choice.”
Castro said Gov. Rauner once again showed he was willing to pit Illinois’ communities against one another to further an economic agenda that has largely failed for lack of support in the general assembly.
“Governor Rauner is using his veto powers to distract the people of Illinois from the real issue at hand: fixing an outdated and unfair school funding system,” Castro said. “We should be searching for the best outcomes for the children of Illinois, yet the governor refuses to meet us at the bargaining table.”
Senate Bill 1 passed the Senate with a bipartisan support and now moves to the House for consideration.
Isn’t it interest for four decades (40 years), from 1970 – 2010, the focus was on hiking pension and retiree healthcare benefits, instead of “fixing” the distribution of state funding to local school districts.
The elephant in the room is not being fixed with SB 1.
No mention of the LitH Sanitary district trying to bilk the taxpayers for millions?
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/08/10/our-view-lake-in-the-hills-sanitary-district-doesnt-have-best-interest-of-taxpayers-in-mind/a8m1iiw/
Good thing Jack Franks has the best interest of the taxpayers.
Do her constituents realize she slit their throats to fund Chicago Public ‘Skool’ System disaster???
Is she related to these people? She’s got their political agenda down pat:
http://outsetmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Castro-brothers.jpg
Elgin School District U 46, in Cristina Castro’s State Senate District, would benefit more than any other school district in the state from the Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) amendatory veto which she voted to overturn on Sunday August 13, 2017 in the 100th General Assembly.
In the original SB 1 favored by the Democrats, U-46 would receive $150,714,573.
In Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of SB 1, U-46 would receive $163,488,348.
Ms. Castro voted in favor of Elgin School District U-46 receiving $12,733,775 less.
She voted to provide the City of Chicago SD 299 (Chicago Public Schools) more funding, and Elgin School District U-46 $12.7 million less funding.
The source of information is the following article.
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Illinois Policy Institute
Rauner’s School Funding Changes Are a Win for 97 Percent of Illinois Districts
by Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
August 12, 2017
http://www.illinoispolicy.org/rauners-school-funding-changes-are-a-win-for-97-percent-of-illinois-districts
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Funding pension and retiree healthcare benefit hikes pertain to the state funding local school districts, because the taxpayers are not a bottomless funding pit.
Funding pensions and retiree healthcare is part of the overall costs attributable to a school district.
Jack Franks as a State Representative for 18 years did not explain to taxpayers the problem of legislative benefit hikes to underfunded pensions and retiree healthcare, with no identified revenue streams to pay for the benefits as they come due in the ensuing decades.
Rather, Jack Franks as a State Representative voted for bills that hiked pension benefits to underfunded pensions.
Jack Franks was part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Jack Franks did not expose the scam of legislative pension benefit hikes to underfunded pensions.
Could that be because he received over $1 million in campaign contributions from labor unions, who pushed for and whose members benefit from legislative benefit hikes to underfunded pensions?
Mark you are right again. I do have a question, as to whether, the benefits they receive are taxable?
A 1099 should be given to every one of them that have Pension Benefits.
Believe that State and local pensions are exempt from Illinois state income tax (laws vary by state) but subject to federal income tax.
Cal would know.
Retirement income is not taxed in Illinois.
Thank you Cal, I know Retirement is not taxed, but what about Health Benefits paid for by the School District, or any other perks?
She passed it in order to receive $$ and praise from her master, Madigan
Christina Castro is a State Senator.
The State Senate President is John Cullerton, who, like House Speaker Michael Madigan, also resides in Chicago.
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The 22nd District extends beyond Elgin.
While none of the district is in McHenry County, parts of it are just across the County line in Kane County.
The 22nd State Senate District includes parts of Carpentersville, Elgin, South Elgin, Streamwood, Hanover Park, Bartlett, Hoffman Estates, and Schaumburg.
The two State Representative Districts included in the 22nd State Senate District are the 43rd (Anna Moeller, Democrat, Elgin district office) and the 44th (Fred Crespo, Democrat, Streamwood district office0.
Wonder if the Elgin media will pick up on this.
Elgin Courier News?
WRMN 1410, home of the Radio Shopping Show?
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Elgin taxpayers have a highly educated minority female concerned about their interests.
Christina Castro had no Republican opponent in the November 8, 2016 general election.