95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB0271

 

Introduced 2/7/2007, by Sen. Louis S. Viverito

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the School Funding Crisis Referendum Act. Requires a statewide advisory referendum at the 2008 general election. Sets forth questions concerning (i) the use of State revenues from any expansion of gaming for the funding of special education, school construction, and school transportation, without decreasing other State funding for those education needs, and (ii) an accompanying reduction of real property taxes at a rate of 50 cents per dollar of revenue. Repeals the Act December 31, 2010. Effective immediately.


LRB095 05010 JAM 25078 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0271 LRB095 05010 JAM 25078 b

1     AN ACT concerning a statewide referendum on the school
2 funding crisis.
 
3     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
 
5     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
6 School Funding Crisis Referendum Act.
 
7     Section 5. Purpose. Illinois, as almost all other states,
8 is currently experiencing a State budget crisis as well as a
9 school funding crisis. A great burden falls on property owners
10 because school funding relies heavily on local property taxes.
11 Article X of the Illinois Constitution provides that the State
12 shall fund education by making public schools free through the
13 secondary level. The purpose of this Act is to place before the
14 voters a statewide advisory referendum as to whether (i) State
15 revenues resulting from any expansion of gaming should be
16 directed to funding special education, school construction,
17 and school transportation, without decreasing other State
18 funding for those education needs, and (ii) each dollar of that
19 funding increase received by a school district should be
20 accompanied by a reduction in real property taxes equivalent to
21 50 cents for each property owner in that district.
 
22     Section 10. School funding crises questions. The following

 

 

SB0271 - 2 - LRB095 05010 JAM 25078 b

1 questions shall be submitted to the voters of the entire State
2 at the 2008 general election:
3         (1) Should State revenues resulting from any expansion
4     of gaming be directed to funding special education, school
5     construction, and school transportation, without
6     decreasing other State funding for those education needs?
7         (2) Should the use of State revenues from the expansion
8     of gaming reduce real property taxes at the ratio of a
9     50-cent reduction for each dollar of revenue?
10     Both of these questions shall be placed on a single,
11 separate ballot. The votes on each question shall be recorded
12 as "Yes" or "No".
 
13     Section 15. Certification. The State Board of Elections
14 shall immediately certify the questions to be submitted to the
15 voters of the entire State under Section 10 to each election
16 authority in Illinois.
 
17     Section 20. Conflicts. If any provision of this Act
18 conflicts with any other law, this Act controls.
 
19     Section 90. Repeal. This Act is repealed on December 31,
20 2010.
 
21     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22 becoming law.