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Tuesday, March 29, 2005 9:48 AM CST
Local officials send message to state
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
EFFINGHAM -- Local government and education officials want to make the message loud and clear this week to state lawmakers: fix the budget now or local government entities cannot survive.
Area state lawmakers gathered for a regional "budget summit" in Effingham on Monday night to hear what local government officials and educational boards need from the Illinois General Assembly through the upcoming state budget. Mattoon School Superintendent Larry Lilly planned to call for an end to delaying tactics on meaningful school funding reform in the state.
"Now is the time to provide the necessary leadership and solve the education funding crisis," Lilly said Monday afternoon, reading from the draft of the address he planned to offer to state representatives Roger Eddy, David Reis and Ron Stephens. "Lawmakers must reach a consensus instead of an impasse on school funding reform."
Two Senate bills are being considered for providing property tax relief statewide while increasing either state individual or corporate income tax rates for distribution to local government.
Lake Land College President Robert Luther on Monday planned to talk about how a repeated lack of state leadership on the budget crisis would have an impact on "the daily lives of Illinois' citizens."
He planned to list just a few examples of the ways the state's budget crisis has affected Lake Land College:
-- Lake Land has lost more than $1 million in restricted grants.
-- The Illinois community college system is operating at the 2000 funding level.
-- Capital funds have been frozen; classrooms are overflowing and the campus is over-utilized.
-- Local support has been stagnant over the past several years.
-- Lake Land has been forced to place the financial burden on the backs of its students by increasing tuition and fees.
-- LLC students are borrowing more money to pay for their education.
-- The college has hired only one and a half faculty and counselors, yet services and enrollment have seen significant growth.
State Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said Eastern Illinois University President Lou Hencken is out of town, and noted that Hencken recently testified before the House Higher Education Committee in Springfield.
In addition, Rose said, EIU officials will be testifying before a Senate committee in two weeks.
Charleston School Superintendent Gary Niehaus also was not available to attend the hearing. Jefferson Elementary School Principal Jim Louthan was to attend the hearing. But, Louthan said he was going to listen to the testimony and report back.
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