(Photo courtesy www.ilga.gov)
By Illinois News Network
SPRINGFIELD – A measure that would freeze property taxes in Illinois for two years, put a sunset on the current school funding formula and also give some relief to several pension funds in Chicago is on it’s way to the House, but some Republicans in the Senate don’t think it’s quite soup yet.
Senate President John Cullerton said Senate Bill 318 is a compromise with the Governor’s call to freeze property taxes in Illinois. Leading Republican Senator Christine Radogno said the measure doesn’t go far enough to provide local cost controls and asked for a more comprehensive agreement. Cullerton said it’s not a perfect bill but still urged for its passage.
Meanwhile, a bill to provide for $75 million more in funding for schools passed but not without Republican Matt Murphy questioning where the money for Senate Bill 2039 would come from.
“All this is adding more to your Christmas list when Santa has already said he’s tapped out,” Murphy exclaimed. “This would be great to do but we don’t have the money.”
Both measures are now headed to the House. Meanwhile Senators also passed measures tweaking workers’ compensation, but not without opposition. Republican Kyle McCarter called the bill a list of quote “do nothings”.
That measure also heads to the House.
