(The Center Square) – Democrats have finally released a report calling on Illinois taxpayers to pay an additional $1.4 billion to fund public universities. One Republican lawmaker questioned whether it would help prevent students from pursuing higher education outside of Illinois.
The Commission on Fair Funding of Public Colleges, established by law in 2021, said that providing public universities with an additional $100 million to $135 million annually would help the state close the reported funding shortfall by 10%. A report was released stating that it would be possible to fill the gap in ~15 years.
Robin Steens, president of Advance Illinois, said the funding formula outlined in the report is very similar to the funding formula used in K-12 schools in Illinois. Stevens said K-12 education is a success despite record low literacy and math proficiency rates among Illinois students.
“Illinois has weathered this situation better than any other state in the nation because it's hard to prove the negative, it's hard to prove the relationship, but we've spent years trying to… There is no doubt in my mind that it took a long time to come to a consensus. By investing in the neighborhoods that need it most, we will be in a stronger position heading into the pandemic. That's why we've been able to get through this pandemic so well,” Stevens said. “Do you still need to recover? Of course.”
Despite increased funding, 65% of the state's 1.86 million public school children cannot read at grade level, according to Illinois' recent 2023 report card. The number of students is 1.2 million.
State Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona), who serves on the House Appropriations and Higher Education Committee, said colleges need to offer the products students want, and his five grandchildren chose out-of-state schools. He said that's because it's cheaper. Jacobs said the Committee on Equitable Funding of Public Universities has never approached the Appropriations Committee.
“Instead of saying, 'This is what it's going to be, this is the budget,' it should include all political parties. And they wonder why they're voting against the budget. It's detrimental to the entire state,” Jacobs said. he said. “The budget is not balanced.”
Gov. JB Pritzker's fiscal year 2025 budget proposal would increase funding for public universities by about $24.6 million.
Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, said Illinois needs to focus on disparities within the state before focusing on things like tuition matching programs rather than funding.
“What about giving students here in Illinois the opportunity to have a fair system?” Lightford asked. “So before you consider these out-of-state matching programs, if you read the report, you'll see that some of those items are taken into account, but like anything else, your home As in the case of, a solid foundation.”
Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) discusses increasing funding for higher education
Stones said things like tuition matching programs don't work as a substitute for getting the fundamental funding approach right.
Jacobs said that while Southern Illinois University, in his district, has seen some improvement in enrollment, tuition remains too high there and across the state. Almost one in two public school graduates who go on to a four-year college choose to leave Illinois rather than study at an in-state institution.
“You can spend as much money as you want. Until we get 51 percent of it to stay here in the state, we have a problem,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs said high taxes and anti-corporate policies have led to a decline in student numbers.
