Number of half-empty Chicago public schools doubles, yet lawmakers want to extend school closing moratorium – Wirepoints
April 19, 2024
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A set of state lawmakers want to extend CPS’ current school closing moratorium to February 1, 2027 – the same year CPS is set to transition to a fully-elected school board. That means schools like Manley High School, with capacity for more than 1,000 students but enrollment of just 78, can’t be closed for anther three years. The school spends $45,000 per student, but just 2.4% of students read at grade level.
Hopefully, all media will get the message, in Illinois, too.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes, why lawmakers don’t want to touch the tax’s cost drivers, just how much Illinoisans’ tax burden has grown over the decades, why Gov. Pritzker failed to meet his promise to reform property taxes, and more.
I downsized in 2012 to a nice ranch tpwmhome on a golf course. Sold a mcmamsion for 400k which is worth less today to the angel that came along and bought it, it had 10k property taxes. This townhome cost 140k but taxes are still 5k! A home is NOT an investment, nor should one prepay a mortgage to gain equity in the traditional manner. In Illinois you rent, even if you hold a mortgage you are really a renter. The property tax drag has already changed the landscape of everyone to renters. Downsize now, and invest any left over… Read more »
Why is this a problem? State and local workers need their pensions! They earned it!
Ha! (Love the snark) The public employee unions will fight to the death for the pensions. This is their number 1 issue. They have probably told every legislator in their pocket that if they even hint at “pension reform” the unions will mount war against them with everything they have. Our legislators are petrified of the public employee unions, and there will be no crossing them. Public unions are the primary constituent for Illinois democrats. The media plays along, sympathizing that the tens of thousands of six figure earning public employees not receiving even COLA increases is “just not fair,”… Read more »