Mussman Supports Historic Overhaul of Broken Education Funding Formula

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Following the Illinois House of Representatives’ vote on Senate Bill 1947, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, issued the following statement:

“True compromise was accomplished yesterday. I took steps to finally end Illinois’ unjust and antiquated school funding formula by supporting this package. While the bill is not 100 percent of what I would like to see in an overhaul like this, it is still what all of our school districts need in order to provide the best possible education to their students.

“This proposal not only includes a permanent funding provision for all school districts, it also allows parents to have more control over how their tax dollars are spent. This can mean property tax relief down the road, which is something all Illinoisans deserve. This compromise plan is a much better fit than what the governor suggested we adopt. His plan would have only maintained the broken status quo, enriching the wealthiest school districts over poorer ones. I could not promote a plan that selects winners and losers, which is why I rejected the governor’s plan and supported this bipartisan measure instead.

“While I do not agree with every provision of this package, the students and parents across Illinois cannot be subject to nonsensical partisan differences. Illinois’ broken education funding formula needs to be fixed, and Senate Bill 1947 is a bipartisan compromise that starts that process. I hope the governor will put aside his differences and sign this measure into law.”