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street (at the Capitol),” Manar said. “On this issue I think
we have a lot of people on the same team, but it’s still a
difficult process.”
For example, Pritchard praised the bipartisan, bicameral
efforts of the commission, but expressed concerns about
adequately funding the plan and said that a property tax
freeze must be part of any deal to increase revenues.
“I am excited about the adequacy targets in the plan,”
Pritchard said, referring to the 27 research-based
elements that mirror those in the Vision 20/20 Evidence-
Based Funding Model. “But what services are needed for
schools and what do they cost? Those dollars are the key
issue and how fast we can move toward those adequacy
targets is probably going to be a disappointment to
people. Increasing funding for a complete solution would
mean a big tax increase, and property tax reform must be
included if we are going to talk about increasing taxes.”
Other issues that could prove to be sticking points,
according to the legislators, include the hold harmless
provisions, high poverty concentration and regional
adjustments for wages or cost of living.
“The hold harmless is a political tool to help pass the bill,
but it then makes it challenging to find the dollars that are
needed to put into the distribution model. It’s a very tricky
proposition,” Barickman explained. “Aside from those
areas, I sense widespread agreement.”
After fielding questions, suggestions and requests from
the audience, the legislators had a request of their own:
help from educational leaders in advocating for school
funding reform.
“Phone your legislators and say ‘Get the job done!’ Be
very simple and direct,” Manar said.
Davis warned against cherry-picking certain items to oppose
from the complex, interconnected pieces of the puzzle.
“This is going to take collaboration,” Davis said. “There is
going to have to be some give and take. The moment we go
down that path of saying ‘Don’t do this or that’ it’s over.”
Pritchard and Barickman both said getting some political
cover to take tough votes, such as voting for a tax hike,
would be helpful.
“Talk to your employees, talk to your citizens. And talk to
your legislators. We need encouragement and we need
storytellers to help educate people about what’s at stake,”
Pritchard said. “We have some very tough votes coming
up. Let your legislators know they have to be statesmen
this year.”
Talk to your employees, talk
to your citizens. And talk to
your legislators. We need
encouragement and we need
storytellers to help educate
people about what’s at stake.
—Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Hinckley)
Four members of the legislative panel at the Alliance Leadership Summit in Springfield fielded questions from the attendees.