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By A+ Illinois and By Lynda J. Hemmerling- February 13, 2003
newly formed south suburban caucus is taking its education
funding reform show on the road.
State Sen. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, led the debut rally Monday evening at
Bloom High School in Chicago Heights.
The group is backing a bill that would raise state income taxes from 3
percent to 4 percent and the corporate income taxes from 4.8 percent to 6.4
percent.
Two-thirds of the money generated from the increase would be spent on
property tax relief, with the remaining one-third spent on increasing state aid
to poorer schools.
The bill also includes a renter's tax credit and incentives for school
districts to merge.
About 80 people, including educators, politicians and business leaders
attended Monday's rally that was sponsored by Network 21, a
coalition of education, business, labor and civic organizations that share a
common interest in reforming Illinois' school finance system to improve
education.