Lawmakers got a look at Gov. Bruce Rauner's school funding proposal today.
As promised, the governor's plan gives every district the full amount of state aid due under the current school funding formula. But that formula, which relies heavily on property taxes, has been called the most inequitable plan in the nation.
So despite the fact that Rauner’s proposal adds money to the pot, some of the neediest districts will lose funds, while some of the wealthiest will get more.
State Rep. Christian Mitchell, a Chicago Democrat, says Rauner's plan is like Robin Hood in reverse.
"You've got a proposal where Chicago Public Schools is losing $75 million, where Harvey's losing money, where Taylorville's losing money, where Cahokia and East St. Louis are losing money, but New Trier and Lake Forest are gaining money," Mitchell says. "My guess would be this particular proposal is dead on arrival. He's literally robbing from the poor to give more money to those that already have money."
Democrats have proposed a complete overhaul of the state's school funding formula, but numbers on what that plan would mean for individual districts aren’t out yet. The governor has said there isn’t time for an overhaul right now.
