Governor Bruce Rauner has been drumming up opposition to the Democrats' new school funding plan by touting how much more money each district would receive under his version. Under the Democrats' plan, Senate Bill 1, the northwest suburban district of Elgin would gain about 15 million dollars. But if lawmakers uphold the governor's amendatory veto, Elgin would see about twice that much. So that district's CEO, Tony Sanders, must be rooting for Rauner's plan, right?
Wrong.
"Because it's one-year money. The other changes cause me significant concerns about future years. They're asking me to take an additional 12 million dollars under the veto, to take those dollars in exchange for uncertainty in future years.”
Rauner's veto strips out adjustments for inflation, for higher salaries in suburbs like Elgin, and will penalize districts with declining enrollment. Sanders says in the longterm, his district could lose more than it gains.
The Illinois House plans to gauge support for changes Gov. Bruce Rauner made with an amendatory veto of school funding legislation.
There will be no immediate vote on overriding the veto when the House convenes Wednesday.
Instead, Democrats will consider a new bill that incorporates the Republican governor's changes. But, its chances in the House are slim.
The original legislation would revamp the way public schools are funded. Under the plan, no school district would get less money next year than it received this year. Additional money would be funneled to the neediest districts first.
Rauner's amendatory veto significantly changed that plan.
If the House doesn't approve the new compromise bill, it will have until Aug. 29 to override Rauner's veto. The Senate voted to override the veto on Sunday.
