By April, the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce plans to take a position in favor of or against increased state funding for all levels of education, including support for NIU.

Chamber President Tim Lehan said the chamber is gathering information about the funding situation and will “take a position one way or another” based on the data collected.

“I kind of foresee support for Northern and for increased funding for higher education because Northern is so important to the community. The university pumps a lot of money into the community,” Lehan said.

The DeKalb chamber has a “good” relationship with the university, although NIU withdrew from the state chamber, Lehan said.

“I certainly can see why he (NIU President John LaTourette) did withdraw. He’s putting pressure on the state chamber. He had to do something very drastic to get the point across,” Lehan said.

LaTourette announced NIU’s withdrawal from the state chamber Feb. 11. He said NIU withdrew because the state chamber failed to support a tax increase.

LaTourette said the state chamber’s failure to support a tax increase is “an example of the failure of leadership.”

Lehan said the state chamber is not against increased funding for education but against any new tax increases. He said the state chamber believes new revenues can be obtained by cutting other state programs.

He said, “It doesn’t look as if the money is there. I really have a hard time seeing where the state chamber comes from.”

Lehan said LaTourette will speak to chamber members today at a board members’ special meeting.

“LaTourette will try to sway us into backing a tax increase,” he said.

All levels of education are urging support for a tax increase because Gov. James Thomspon did not recommend any new increases for education funding for next year.

LaTourette said for the state to meet its funding commitments to education and other constituents such as mental health and welfare, an increase of one percentage point is needed.

Illinois’ 2.5 percent income tax rate is 7th lowest in the nation, LaTourette said.

Lehan said a representative from the DeKalb secondary education group Changing How Illinois Education is Financed and a representative from the State Chamber of Commerce also will address the funding issue.