Cunningham looks forward to more funding for local schools

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs, issued the following statement in response to Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address:

“I am glad to see that Gov. Pritzker’s proposed budget demonstrates his commitment to repairing the damage our state incurred during the last four years. It is time for us to work together to restore stability to Illinois.

“The additional $375 million the governor plans to invest in K-12 education marks a major win for Illinois students and educators. Educating our children must be a priority as we consider a plan to move Illinois forward and this additional funding will be instrumental to southwest suburban schools as they look to reduce their reliance on property taxes.

“I also admire the governor’s proposal to increase funding by $10 million for MAP grants on which thousands of Illinois students rely and to provide an additional $10 million for the AIM HIGH program, which provides thousands of dollars of financial aid for middle class students in my district. As we face the rising costs of higher education, it is important that opportunities remain available to all Illinois students who want to pursue a post-secondary degree.

“This budget includes several proposals that will benefit our state, but there is still a lot of work to do. Several questions must be answered about the governor’s plan to consolidate municipal pension systems. The value of streamlining our pension system must be balanced with the need to ensure our first responders and other municipal employees have some local control over their pensions.

“Overall, this budget marks a step in the right direction as we build a spending plan for Illinois. I look forward to working with Gov. Pritzker and my fellow legislators to create a balanced budget that moves our state forward.”

Cunningham’s bill to combat opioid overdoses clears committee

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham to combat opioid overdoses by improving emergency response time cleared the Senate Public Health Committee Tuesday.

“The prevalence of opioid addiction and overdose in our country is a crisis and we need to find immediate solutions to prevent opioid-related deaths,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “Our first responders are heroes in this fight and we need to ensure they have every tool available to respond quickly and effectively to suspected overdoses.”

Senate Bill 1258 would require emergency medical technicians in Chicago to report treatment of an individual experiencing a suspected or actual opioid overdose to the city for use in the Overdose Detection Mapping Application (ODMAP), developed by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

The ODMAP provides real-time overdose data throughout an area to mobilize an immediate response to an overdose spike. Each suspected overdose is plotted to a map that allows local officials to identify trends and develop strategies to more effectively respond to overdoses.

“We cannot afford any delay in addressing the opioid epidemic that is devastating our communities,” Cunningham said. “Introducing this program in Chicago will save countless lives by assisting our first responders in quickly reaching and treating overdose patients.”

Senate Bill 1258 goes before the full Senate.

Cunningham supports measure to increase minimum wage

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham voted Thursday to increase Illinois’ minimum wage to $15, saying the legislation will make great strides toward easing the financial burden on working class families.

“Working mothers and fathers in Illinois should not be forced to work multiple jobs just to provide the bare minimum their families need to get by,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “A living wage is not a privilege, but a basic human right and we must ensure every Illinois worker has access to this right.”

Senate Bill 1 would gradually increase the minimum wage in Illinois to $15 an hour by 2025. The first increase will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020 and set the minimum wage at $9.25.

The step-by-step rollout of the increase is designed to allow businesses to adjust to the law and adapt accordingly. The bill also includes a tax credit for small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to help offset the cost of the wage increase.

Illinois’ minimum wage has been $8.25 an hour since 2010. In the city of Chicago, the minimum wage is set to increase to $13 an hour this year.

“This legislation will help bring stability to families who are struggling to make ends meet,” Cunningham said. “Illinois workers have long deserved a raise and I am proud to support the measure that will bring it to them.”

The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.

Southwest suburban homeowners to see millions in property tax relief

SPRINGFIELD – Home owners and small businesses in Chicago’s southwest suburbs will see a decrease in their property tax bills thanks to a new state grant program aimed at providing relief to school districts in high-taxed areas. 

The Property Tax Relief Grant was a part of a historic school funding reform law that brought millions of dollars to school districts in dire need of funding.

“Our communities should not be forced to choose between providing a high quality education for students and keeping property tax rates manageable for homeowners and businesses,” said State Senator Bill Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “These grants will ensure that our students have access to a great education without paying for it at the expense of local taxpayers.”

Several school districts in the 18^th Senate District will be eligible for the tax relief grant, including: 

• Evergreen Park Community High School District 231: $965,999.66
• Community High School District 218: $5,788,140.28
• Oak Lawn Community High School District 229: $2,125,024.36

In order to receive the state grant, eligible school districts must submit an abatement resolution to their county clerks by March 30. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will then distribute the grants once receiving all abatement certificates.

More information on the Property Tax Relief Grant and a listing of each eligible school district can be found at www.ISBE.net/proptaxrelief.